A man has been arrested as officers investigate the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
The 35-year-old man was shot during the fatal attack and has now been arrested by Merseyside police. The man, who remains in hospital, was arrested for breaking his licence conditions, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Meanwhile, detectives believe that Olivia was not the intended target of the shooting as the gunman chasing a 35-year-man forced his way into Olivia's family home on Kingsheat avenue. Speaking at raids linked to gun crime in the city, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: “We’re now talking about the murder of Olivia. I can tell you the male I discussed at the press conference yesterday, who had been shot at and chased into the home address of Cheryl and Olivia, has now been arrested.
Read more: Everything Merseyside Police said as girl, 9, shot dead in Liverpool named as Olivia Pratt-Korbel
“That’s not in relation to the murder of Olivia per say. The reason for that arrest is for breach of his existing licence conditions. The nature of that beach is for poor behaviour. He remains in hospital, and last update he was in a stable condition”
He added: "Our enquiries continue into the shocking murder of Olivia, and supporting her family as they try to come to terms with this tragedy. I would like to echo the words of our Chief Constable yesterday's appeal to the community to keep helping this family in every way possible. We will do all we can to take all of those 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."
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy appeared at a press conference after the shooting, urging anyone with information to come forward. She said: "This is not the time for anyone who knows who's responsible for this shooting to remain tight-lipped."
She said: "The man being chased forced his way into Olivia's house and the offender ran in after him, firing a number of shots with complete disregard for Olivia and her family, who had no connection with the gunman or the man who forced his way in.
"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 35-year-old man who had been chased suffered a number of gunshots to his upper body. Whilst Olivia lay dying, he was picked up by his friends, who took him to hospital."
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