Olivia’s family have launched an appeal for witnesses to come forward after the nine-year-old was killed and her mother injured when an intruder who escaped from a gunman forced his way into their home. Merseyside Police said the man, from Huyton, just 10 minutes from where Olivia lived in Dovecot, was arrested on Thursday night on two counts of attempted murder and suspicion of murder. Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot Monday night (Family Leaflet/PA) (Average PA) The man is currently in custody being questioned by police. Convicted burglar and drug dealer Joseph Nee, also from the Dovecot area of Liverpool, has been named as the intended target of the shooting. The 35-year-old allegedly broke into the young man’s family home when her mother Cheryl Korbel answered the front door after hearing a disturbance. The killer chased him inside shooting indiscriminately, wounding Olivia’s mother Cheryl and Nee and killing the nine-year-old. Her older brother and sister were home but upstairs at the time. A man who was with Nee but escaped unharmed has now been identified, while the driver of an Audi Q3 who picked him up from Olivia’s home and took him to hospital has also been questioned by police. Joseph Nee has been named as the suspected target of the shooting (Cheshire Police) In other developments, Detective Constable Kameen praised the level of support from communities as “phenomenal” but continued to appeal for anyone with information to come forward. “I’m incredibly grateful for the sheer levels and volume of information we’ve received so far,” he said. “That level of commitment, that level of cooperation and that level of cooperation just has to continue.” He added: “Again, I would plead with those who operate in the criminal fraternity to search their consciences around these three attacks and come forward.” Officers said they are still seeking information about the shooting and asked people to come forward with any information they have. The football community on Merseyside has also joined the calls. Olivia’s family say they are ‘devastated and have lost a huge part of our lives’ (Average PA) In a tribute to Olivia, her family said the nine-year-old was “a unique, chatty, boisterous little girl who broke the mold when she was born”. “Liv was adored by all who knew her and would instantly make friends with anyone and everyone. She was often seen riding up and down the street on her new birthday bike,” the tribute read. He then appealed for anyone with information to come forward. “If anyone knows something, now is the time to speak up. It’s not about being a “scumbag” or a “grass” it’s about finding out who took our baby. Please do the right thing.” Two Everton FC players, along with manager Frank Lampard, called on communities to come together. Mediator Tom Davies said tragedies like Olivia’s murder “happen far too often”. He added: “Enough is enough. Our communities need to come together now more than ever. “If you know anything about the incident, please inform the authorities. Gun and knife crime is not part of our city. So please come together to help stop this.” Ashley Dale was shot dead in her back garden (Average PA) Frank Lampard added: “Silence is not an option. Enough is enough. Whose side are you on?’ Olivia’s killing came after a spate of violence in the city, where three people were killed in a week. Council worker Ashley Dale, 28, was shot at an address in the Old Swan area in the early hours of Sunday morning in a suspected case of mistaken identity. A man has now been arrested on suspicion of murder in this case, while a woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Sam Rimmer, 22, was shot dead in the Dingle area on August 16 with three people since being arrested. Police say they do not believe the killings are connected, but are keeping an “open mind.”
