Gunman kills eight family members and himself in Erie shooting

A 45-year-old man shot and killed eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, then apparently shot himself to death at a home on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, authorities said at a news conference on Saturday. Nine people died in total, including the suspected shooter, Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said.independent.co.uk+1

Eight of the nine people who died were related, and the ninth was a family friend, Lorah said. The victims ranged in age from 1 year and 10 months to 51. Erie Mayor Daria Devlin and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro both issued statements; Shapiro said he had spoken with the mayor and offered his administration's full support.upi.com+1

What police found at the home

Two women, aged 51 and 37, were found dead outside the home. Inside, officers found a 5-year-old boy, a girl who was two months shy of 2 years old, and four adults: two women, aged 24 and 44, and two men, aged 19 and 21. One victim was eight months pregnant, Lorah said at Saturday's news conference.

Police were called to the home around 5 p.m. Friday after witnesses reported seeing a man firing a handgun outside and then entering the house, according to Erie News Now. Officers arrived within minutes of a ShotSpotter alert — a system that detects gunfire by sound — but heard no gunshots or cries for help and saw no movement inside, Lorah said.

How the response unfolded

With the doors locked and windows covered, officers could not tell whether the gunman was still inside or whether anyone was being held hostage. Police used drones to check the home before SWAT officers forced their way inside and sent in a robot to assess the scene. After discovering the bodies, officers entered the home, Lorah said.

Ring doorbell footage from a neighbouring home shows the two women arriving in distress and pounding on the door for help, Lorah said. Audio appears to capture muffled gunshots inside before the suspected shooter came outside and killed the women. Investigators believe he called out to them before they ran toward him. One woman was the sister-in-law of a victim inside; the other was a family friend.

All eight victims inside the home and the suspected shooter died before officers arrived, and no gunshots were fired after officers arrived, Lorah said. Sounds mistaken for gunfire during the response came from flashbang devices and chemical munitions used by SWAT officers. A .40-caliber handgun registered to the suspected shooter was found on his body.

Police have yet to establish a motive, Lorah said, though he noted that mental health may be a factor. Investigators are reviewing the two women's phones and interviewing relatives and witnesses to establish what they knew. "They must have known that something was going on. They didn't contact us, though, so we don't know what that is yet," Lorah said.

Motive remains unestablished

"It was horrific. It was the worst scene I have ever experienced," Lorah said. He added: "Some scenes stay with you long after you leave them. This is one of those tragic scenes." Mayor Devlin said the police department "arrived at a horrific scene, faced unimaginable circumstances, and carried out their duties with courage and professionalism."

The City of Erie and Mayor Devlin released a joint statement on social media saying the situation has been contained. "The shooter is deceased, and there is no ongoing threat or danger to the public at this time," the statement read. Governor Shapiro said in a statement on Saturday morning: "My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community."

Officials react to the shooting

The investigation remains ongoing, and there is no threat to the public, police said. Police confirmed the total number of deaths on Saturday morning and said all deaths happened before they arrived. No additional shots were fired after police arrived, and sounds heard during the response were flash-bangs associated with the tactical response.