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A nine-year-old girl has been fatally shot in the chest in Liverpool.
This story is now outdated. Police have named the girl shot dead as Olivia Pratt-Korbel – read latest article here
Merseyside Police has launched an investigation after officers attended a house on Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, at 10pm on Monday following reports an unknown male had fired a gun inside the property, according to a statement from the force.
The nine-year-old girl suffered a gunshot injury to the chest and was taken in a critical condition to hospital, where she later died.
A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman suffered a gunshot injury to her hand during the incident inside the house, the force added.
They have both been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries.
The Liverpool Echo has spoken to a man whose son would play with the victim.
“We’re still in shock, I don’t think it’s settled in,” he said.
“She was just a nice little girl, she would ride up and down on her bike. We want to move now.”
One local resident, who gave his name only as David, told Sky News the perpetrator “needs locking up for the rest of their lives”.
“This has shocked me and it’s shocked the community what is happening here today,” he added.
He said the number of growing incidents taking place in the neighbour is “disgusting”.
Innocent people ‘caught in the crossfires’
Father John Ealey, whose parish includes Kingsheath Avenue, said the community has been left “stunned”.
“It is a very poor area,” he said. “There is lots of relative poverty.
“Lots of drug dealing going on and people being injured as they are caught in the crossfires.”
He asked people to pray for the family and the community, saying incidents like this are “happening more and more”.
Assistant mayor Harry Doyle said he was the same age as Rhys Jones, who was fatally shot in Croxteth 15 years ago.
He said: “I remember the atmosphere in the city, and not just the city actually, nationwide, around the shooting of Rhys Jones, was just absolutely awful.
“I remember my family being equally – I look at families this morning on the doorsteps – as worried and concerned and devastated.
“My mum wouldn’t let me walk to school around that time. It is unthinkable and it’s unbelievable that this has happened again 15 years on.
“We thought we’d rid ourselves of this violence and this week we’ve seen it return.”
An ‘abhorrent crime’
Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: “This is a truly shocking incident in which tragically a young and innocent girl has been shot and sadly died.
“Our thoughts and condolences go to her family and friends at this very difficult time. No parent should ever have to suffer the loss of a child in these dreadful circumstances.
“This crime is abhorrent and our communities must come forward and tell us who is responsible.
Read more:
15 years after the murder of Rhys Jones, Merseyside’s summer of violence leaves a trail of bloodshed
“This cowardly individual does not deserve to be walking the streets and I would urge those who know anything to speak to us and tell us what they know so that we can put the person responsible behind bars where they belong.
“We are carrying out a number of lines of enquiry as a matter of urgency and would ask for dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from anyone who lives, works or was visiting the area of Kingsheath Avenue last night.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of 22 August.
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