ERIE, Pa. —
Crime scene tape still surrounds the home where eight people tragically lost their lives in a mass shooting Friday.
Officers were called to Erie’s East Side just before 5 p.m. after a report of two women shot outside the Perry Street home.
Authorities say before they were shot, they were outside the home, pounding on the door. When the door open, the 45-year-old gunman, who was a family member of seven people killed, shot the two women.
Officials say police were at the scene minutes after receiving a ShotSpotter alert, however by that time all victims were already dead.
Among the dead, a woman who was pregnant, two young children and a family friend.
Video Below: Press conference from Rick Lorah
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah told WJET, our ABC affiliate in Erie, repeatedly that the number of lives lost at the 700 block of Perry Street was not only devastating but the crime scene was by far the worst one he has ever seen in his law enforcement career.
What we know about the Victims
After the shooting of the two women, the gunman was seen running into a nearby home.
Officers surrounded the home before forcing their way inside after securing a warrant.
Once inside, officials say “officers were met with an eerie silence.” Police found multiple bodies, including the bodies of a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl.
Authorities say the two young children were both found on the first floor of the home, while the rest of the victims were found in a second-floor stairwell.
The victims in that stairwell included the 24-year-old woman who was 8 months pregnant when she was killed.
The victims 51-year-old woman
37 year old woman5-year-old boy1-year-old girl 24-year-old woman, who was pregnant44-year-old woman19-year-old man21-year-old man
That gunman was also found dead from what officials believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy. There are no words that can be adequately expressed the magnitude of the loss of life here,” said Chief Lorah.
Original coverage of the shooting below:
“Horrific scene”
”Yeah, it’s a horrific scene,” replied Lorah. “There was a large loss of life inside that residence and outside that residence.” Lorah then went on to say, “I can tell you that this is a tragic, tragic situation.”
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An investigation into what led to the shooting is still ongoing.
Statement from Gov. Shapiro
Gov. Josh Shapiro is among the many offering condolences following Friday evening’s mass shooting.
“I’ve spoken with Mayor Devlin and offered my Administration’s full support following the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night — killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians. My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community,” Shapiro posted on X.
Republican Rep. Mike Kelly also released a statement, saying he was praying for the Erie community after the devastating events in Erie.
“May we hold the victims, their families, and those impacted by this tragedy in our hearts,” Kelly said, in part.