By James Simons-
A 35-year-old man believed to have been targeted by the masked gunman who killed young Olivia Pratt-Korbel, has been arrested on suspicion of breaching the terms of his release from prison and will be questioned in connection with the nine-year-old’s murder, police have said.
Olivia(pictured) was fatally shot in her home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool on Monday night when the intended victim forced his way in an attempt to escape the gunman chasing him.
Police said the gunman “fired indiscriminately”, hitting Olivia in the chest as she stood behind her mother Cheryl Korbel, who was shot in the wrist. Olivia’s family had no connection to either him or the gunman, police said. The man being chased was also shot and remains in hospital in a serious, but not life-threatening, condition.
DCS Mark Kameen said the 35-year-old is said to have breached his licence conditions through “poor behaviour”, and had been detained in hospital.
A statement from Merseyside police said: “A 35-year-old man, suspected to have been the target of the shooting, has been detained in hospital on a prison recall after breaching the terms of his licence. He will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his licence. He will be further questioned in connection with the murder and remains in a stable condition.”
The man received gunshot wounds to his upper body and, as Olivia lay dying, was picked up and taken to hospital by friends driving a dark-coloured Audi. The force would not say when he had been released from prison.
Olivia’s death comes 15 years after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was fatally shot on his way home from football practice in Croxteth, Liverpool and is the third fatal shooting in a week.
Officers from Merseyside police carried out a series of raids targeting gun crime in the city on Wednesday as tributes continued to pour in for the schoolgirl.
The force’s chief constable, Serena Kennedy, said the killing “crosses every single boundary”, as the force appealed to the “criminal fraternity” in Liverpool for information.
Kameen urged the community “to keep helping this family in every way possible”.
He said: “Our enquiries continue into the shocking murder of Olivia, and supporting her family as they try to come to terms with this tragedy. We will do all we can to take all of these involved in gun crime off the streets, as this arrest demonstrates.
“This is not the time for anyone who knows who was responsible to stay silent. It is a time for us all to make Merseyside a place where the use of guns on our streets is totally unacceptable and those who use them are held to account. If you saw, heard, captured or know anything, tell us directly or anonymously and we will continue to act.”
Olivia was at home with her two older siblings when her mother, Cheryl Korbel, opened the door after hearing gunshots fired outside. Korbel, 46, was shot in the wrist as she tried to close the door on the gunman while Olivia stood behind her.
The gunman was wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves. He had fired shots at two men walking along Kingsheath Avenue, causing them to flee.
Tributes including flowers and soft toys have been left near the scene of the shooting.