The mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who lost her life due to gang violence in Liverpool, has joined forces with other families of gun crime victims to speak out against it. Olivia was killed in her home on 22 August 2022 when Thomas Cashman, a drug dealer, fired several shots while chasing a rival. One bullet struck Olivia in the chest, leaving her pronounced dead the same day. Her death was the third fatal shooting in Merseyside within a week. Cheryl Korbel, Olivia’s mother, described the pain of losing her daughter, stating that “it has been three years since I last heard her laugh, put her to bed or held her hand, but the pain of her loss still feels like it happened yesterday.”
In response to these deaths, Merseyside police initiated an operation called Evolve, which aims to tackle crime and rebuild communities. Korbel and Tim Edwards, the father of another victim, Elle Edwards, have praised Evolve, while Chief Constable Serena Kennedy emphasized its impact in building trust and creating safer neighborhoods.
Korbel urged, “While Evolve is making a difference, we need your help. To keep our communities safe, if you know anything about criminal activity, please speak out.”
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/aug/18/parents-of-liverpool-gang-violence-victims-olivia-pratt-korbel-speak-out-three-years-on
