What happened to Olivia Pratt-Korbel?
THE tragic death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has shocked the nation.
The heart-breaking killing of the schoolgirl has left the community of Liverpool and the nation in a state of anger, disbelief and devastation.
Who was Olivia Pratt-Korbel?
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was just nine years-old when she was fatally shot and killed in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool.
She lived with her mother Cheryl in their family home on Kingsheath Avenue and attended St Margaret Mary’s School.
She was described by her family as a little girl ”who was full of life, full of sass and most definitely knew what she wanted in life.”
What happened to Olivia Pratt-Korbel?
On Monday, August 22, 2022, Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot and killed when a gunman forced his way into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool.
In a tragic turn of events, Olivia was not the intended target of the shooting and instead an innocent victim of gun crime.
It is believed that at around 10pm on Monday, August 22, 2022, two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue from the direction of Finch Lane – close to Olivia’s family home.
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At around that time, the two men were approached by a lone person, potentially a male, who was wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark pants and black gloves.
This individual has been described as being was approximately 5ft 7 inch tall and of slim build – and was carrying a handgun.
CCTV footage captured this individual shooting at the two men – who both responded by running away from the gunman.
As the sound of gunfire started, Olivia’s Mum Cheryl appeared have opened the door to her property in order to see what was going on outside.
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As she did this, one of the men fleeing the gunman saw the front door opening and ran towards it – he did not know Olivia or Cheryl.
Despite her best efforts to try and close the front door, the man forced his way inside the home – followed by the gunman.
At this time, nine year-old Olivia was believed to have been stood behind her mother.
The gunman then opened fire through a gap in the door way, dispensing one bullet – which hit Cheryl in the wrist and Olivia in the chest.
A further two bullets were fired at the man who had forced his way into the home, as the gunman continued to try and force his way in.
Just moments after the gunman fled the scene, a black Audi arrived outside to take the injured man to hospital.
Olivia was left for dead in the doorway along with her mum.
Officers arrived at the address and rushed Olivia to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital before the North West Ambulance Service took Cheryl to Aintree Hospital.
However, the injuries Olivia suffered were fatal and tragically resulted in her death.
On Wednesday, August 24, 2022, Merseyside Police said a 35-year-old man injured in the shooting would be recalled to prison for allegedly breaching the terms of his licence conditions with “poor behaviour”.
He is believed to have been the intended target of the shooting.
The force said the man, who was in a stable condition, had been detained in hospital and would be “further questioned” in connection with the death of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Police are still on the hunt for the masked gunman who fled the scene after he carried out the shooting with “complete disregard”.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said:
“I want to take this opportunity again to appeal to anybody who knows who is responsible for this attack to please come forward and give us those names.
“We need to find all who are responsible for this – not just the gunman. We need to find out who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident.”
Ms Kennedy added: “If people are frightened to come forward, we can have those conversations in confidence.”
What have Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family said?
Relatives of the school girl have vowed they will ‘get justice’ and have warned her killer that the girl’s photo will “haunt you for the rest of your days”.
In a Facebook post dedicated to little Olivia, cousin Rebecca Louise paid tribute to ‘Our crazy beautiful Olivia’ as she apologised for ”the cruel world we live in and the monsters in it.”
Rebecca said: ‘’I don’t think I or the family will ever find the words to describe the heartache we have all felt in the past 24 hours.
”We haven’t just lost ‘Our Liv, we’ve lost a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin and a granddaughter. Our little Liv who was full of life, full of sass and most definitely knew what she wanted in life.
‘You had so much potential and a full life to lead beautifully.
‘I can only apologise for the cruel world we live in and the monsters in it. My heart aches so much and I don’t think we will ever digest what’s happened.
‘’We WILL find who did this and we WILL get justice for you baby girl. Lewis & I love you SO much it hurts. Forever 9 years young.”
Family members have also placed down tributes at the scene close to where Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed.
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A handwritten note on one of the bouquets of flowers reads: “RIP baby girl , can’t believe what has happened, feels like a nightmare. We will miss you so much our sassy queen. Love aunty Kim and uncle Tony.”
Another reads: “Our Liv, our brown eyed sassy pants. I will never find the words to describe the heartache we have all felt. I’ll miss your outgoing, sassy little self and all the joy, laughs, smiles, love you brought to our lives. Love you forever and always.”