A 12-year-old girl died following an assault in her home in Liverpool, England. Ava White was found unconscious at her home on Saturday. Police say she suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite life-saving efforts, doctors were unable to revive her, police confirmed.
A 22-year-old woman and a man, aged 24, have been arrested in connection with the incident, according to the BBC. The man has been taken into custody while the woman is under police guard in the hospital. Both are reported to be “psychologically vulnerable.”
Ava was one of three children, aged 5, 10 and 12, living in the home.
The family spoke out via Ava’s cousin in a statement, reported by Daily Mail. “Our world changed for ever,” read the statement. “Our hearts are broken. It is impossible to believe we will never be able to see her smile again.”
Avis said her cousin was “neat, nice, funny, and kind.” Ava was “a brilliant little girl who made us laugh till we cried,” according to her cousin.
In addition to the murder charges, police also charged two 16-year-old boys with offences related to the assault.
Emergency services were called to the 11 Saint George’s Crescent home at around 6:45 a.m. on Saturday. At the time of Ava’s death, a window was broken and “one weapon” was discovered in the home.