A nine-year-old girl who was shot dead at her home had a 'beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour and a bubbly personality', the headteacher of her school has said. Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed as she stood behind her mother who was trying to stop a gunman entering the family home in Liverpool.
Rebecca Wilkinson, headteacher at St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School in Huyton, paid tribute to the "bubbly" little girl who she said would always try to help others. She said Olivia had recently performed in the school production of The Wizard of Oz, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Ms Wilkinson said: “Our school community is devastated at the sad loss of Olivia. We are in shock and disbelief at such tragic news. 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.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the “horrific, senseless shooting” of Olivia Pratt-Korbel. He said: "My thoughts are with Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family and the people of Liverpool following this horrific, senseless shooting."
It was an “unimaginable tragedy”, Mr Johnson said, and he promised Merseyside Police would get “whatever they need to catch those responsible and secure justice for Olivia”.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said Olivia had been at home with her two older siblings and mother Cheryl on Monday night when Ms Korbel opened the door after hearing gunshots fired outside. He said a figure, wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves, fired shots at two men walking along Kingsheath Avenue, causing both of them to run away.
One of the men ran towards the open door of Olivia’s home and forced his way in, Mr Kameen said.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "This is a shocking and appalling attack which will reverberate around our communities, and I want to take this opportunity again to appeal to anybody who knows who was responsible for this attack to please come forward and give us those names.
"We will not rest until those who are responsible are put behind bars. I can guarantee that no stone will be left unturned."
