The gunman who shot dead a nine-year-old girl in her home had forced his way inside after her mum heard a noise and opened the door.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel is believed to have been standing behind her terrified mother Cheryl when the ruthless killer fired shots indiscriminately and hit the innocent youngster.
A 35-year-old man, who is not known to the family, had run into the house to escape the killer who was chasing him in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, at around 10pm last night.
It comes as Olivia's headteacher at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School in Huyton, paid tribute to the "much loved" pupil who "had a beautiful smile, lovely sense of humour and a bubbly personality".
During a press conference today, Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said the offender "ran in after him firing a number of shots with complete disregard for Olivia and her family".
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She said the killer and man being chased had "no connection" with the girl or her parents.
The police chief continued: "Sadly Olivia was fatally wounded when the gunman fired at the man who was trying to get into the house.
"And her mum also suffered a gunshot to her wrist."
The chased man suffered a number of gunshots to his body, police said.
Chief Constable Kennedy added that the injured man's friends arrived at the scene and took him to hospital while Olivia "lay dying".
It was only after police reached the scene in Kingsheath Avenue that the youngster was rushed to hospital.
Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: "We believe at around 10pm two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue in the direction of Finch Lane.
"At that time they 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.
"They were carrying a handgun. We know this person shot at the two men who were walking down Kingsheath Avenue.
"Both men responded by running away from that person.
"Responding to the gunshots, Olivia's mum appears to have opened the door to her property in order to see what was going on outside.
"One of the men, the 35-year-old man, appears to have seen the door opening and run towards the opening.
"He then forced his way into the property despite the best efforts of Olivia's mum and forced his way inside.
"As that was taking place the person with the gun followed the male to this property.
"They also tried to force entry to the property and managed - it would appear - to put their hand through open door as Olivia's mum continues to try and close it.
"A shot was fired which we believe hit Olivia's mum injuring her and fatally wounding Olivia.
"Olivia at that time, we believe, was stood directly behind Cheryl."
The gunman burst into the home and fired two further shots at the 35-year-old man inside, before finally leaving the property.
In a direct appeal to the gunman, Chief Superintendent Kameen said: "I want that individual to hand themselves in."
He also called on the second man that was shot at in the street to reach out to police.
An anonymous resident told The Mirror at the scene: “If someone comes banging on your door you would answer.
“It was a run through, they came running through the house after someone shooting and shot the little girl and killed her.
“You could hear it all. Her mum was screaming for help, she came running out into the street and she was banging on the car begging people to help her.
“But no one could do anything, everyone was too scared to come out their houses. The police didn’t turn up for an hour and then the ambulance took a while as well.
“I’ve known the little girl since she was a baby - she was the brightest, loveliest girl. She was an old head on young shoulders and she was absolutely tiny.
“She was born premature and she didn’t look like a nine year old, she was tiny. They’re just a nice normal family, I can’t believe it.
“I’m scared to let my kids out, the gun crime around here is just getting worse and worse.”
Olivia's family is the third to lose a love one to gun crime over the past week in the area, police said.
It comes 15 years to the day after 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead in Croxteth.
And less than 48 hours after a young university graduate was killed just a mile-and-a-half away.
Ashley Dale, 28, was not the 'intended target' when she was fatally gunned down in a garden shortly after midnight on Sunday (August 21).
Headteacher Rebecca Wilkinson said: “Olivia was a much loved member of our school. She had a beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour, and a bubbly personality.
"She was kind hearted and would go out of her way to help others. She loved to perform and recently participated in the school production of The Wizard of Oz.
"Olivia will be missed greatly by staff and children at our school. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, told BBC Breakfast: "It is completely unacceptable and this mindless violence simply has to stop.
"I think, as a city, we come together in adversity and I know people in Liverpool will be absolutely horrified this morning."
Police are urging anyone with information to come forward as they work to track down the killer.
A small girl came out of her house and taped a note to the wall near where the child was killed.
The sign appears to read: "Wanted. Be careful. Wanted people on the lose. They have guns."
An investigation is underway and house-to-house, CCTV and forensic enquiries are in the process of being carried out.
A cordon remains in place this morning with a large police and press presence.
Police vans and an armed officer is standing guard outside the property in question.
Residents came out of their houses to take a look at what was happening down the road, but were unable to pass the police tape.
Assistant mayor and councillor for Knotty Ash Harry Doyle said of last night's shooting: "Lots of people round here have got children and it's just absolutely devastating.
"We all went to bed last night knowing that something was happening, that there was a strong police presence, and woke up earlier this morning knowing the full detail and the fact that this little girl, nine years old, probably goes to a local school, going into Year 4 or Year 5, whole life ahead of her...it's just devastating."
He added: "The community is shook. You look around and people are on their doorsteps and they don't know quite what to think or say, you've got mums hugging their kids. It's very real, these kids will be playing out on the streets together and it's just awful."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of August 22.
