A 34-year old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in connection with the killing of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Merseyside Police said today.
A second man, 41, was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Both were arrested in Runcorn, in the south west of Liverpool, in the early hours of this morning.
Both remain in custody, and the 34-year-old man is being questioned by detectives.
Olivia was shot in the chest on August 22 by a balaclava-clad gunman, who was chasing a former burglar released from prison on licence in the Dovecot area of the city in a suspected gangland feud.
The killer was in pursuit of 35-year-old Joseph Nee, who forced his way into the house after noticing Olivia’s mother, 46-year-old Cheryl Korbel, had opened the door to see what was going on outside.
The gunman fired into the house hitting Olivia, her mother Cheryl in the wrist, and the fleeing 35-year-old in the upper body.
A 41-year-old man from Knowsley has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and is also in custody.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, was shot dead in her own home after a gun chase spilled over into her family’s house
Merseyside Police previously released footage of this individual who they believed to be the shooter
Joseph Nee, 35, forced his way into Olivia’s home in an effort to flee the gunman pursuing him after her mother opened the door to see what the noises outside were
Police previously appealed to the public and other criminals to turn in the culprit who killed Olivia
It is understood that following the shooting, associates of Nee took him to hospital in a car – leaving little Olivia behind.
Police said officers scooped up Olivia and rushed her to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in the back of a police car, but the nine-year-old was pronounced dead one hour later.
A post-mortem examination found her medical cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.
Officers previously shared CCTV footage of two men they wanted to trace in connection to the tragic incident – one of whom was in the area at the time, while the other was sought as a suspect.
They also appealed directly to criminal associates of the shooter to turn the killer in.
The youngster’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and shock among the Merseyside community, with many laying wreaths and leaving cards near Olivia’s family home and more than 200 mourners attending a vigil in her memory last night.
Detective Kameen warned those who are ‘shielding’ the culprit that officers ‘will do everything legitimately possible to bring you to justice’.
‘It is beyond comprehension how anyone can protect a person who is responsible for killing a nine-year-old little girl,’ he added.
Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Investigations, Mark Kameen, said: ‘I continue to urge anyone who has information that can help our investigation into Olivia’s tragic murder to please come forward so we can bring those responsible to justice.
‘A number of people have been arrested in respect of this investigation. However, we still need the public’s help in ensuring that we can a build a strong evidential picture so justice is served for Olivia and her family.
Olivia’s murder shocked the people of Liverpool and dozens of floral tributes were laid near to her home
Police are still appealing for anyone with information about the tragic incident on August 22 to get in touch with them
‘With this, I appeal for those who may have information, no matter how small, that could continue to help our inquiries to contact us directly or anonymously and we will do the rest.
‘The investigation into Olivia’s tragic murder is ongoing and we still need to build up a strong evidential picture so that we can bring those responsible to justice.’
Ahead of the arrests in the early hours of this morning, Detective Kameen from Merseyside Police described the hunt for the killer in releasing CCTV footage to the public.
He said: ‘I am going to show you footage of the man that murdered little Olivia. I am doing this because people may recognise what he is wearing.
‘It may also help people remember seeing him in the area on the night of Olivia’s murder and be able to help us trace where he went next.’
According to police, footage shows the gunman running along Finch Lane away from Kingsheath Avenue and then turning right into Berryford Road where he goes out of sight.
‘We know he is climbing into and through peoples gardens to avoid being seen,’ he said.
A 36-year-old man from Huyton and a 33-year-old from Dovecot who were previously arrested on suspicion of murder and two counts of attempted murder in relation to Olivia’s death have been released on bail.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Merseyside Police or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
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