Shooting leaves 9 dead including suspect in Erie, Pennsylvania, police say

A man killed eight people including a pregnant woman, children and other relatives at his home in Erie, Pennsylvania, before taking his own life as well, authorities said Saturday.

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said the 45-year-old man was related to seven of the victims in the previous day’s shooting, while the eighth was a friend of the pregnant woman.

Click to Gallery

In this image from video provided by WJET, police gather outside the scene of a shooting in Erie, Pa., on Friday evening, Oct. 9, 2026. (Matt Barnum/WJET via AP)

In this image from video provided by WJET, bystanders gather outside the scene of a shooting in Erie, Pa., on Friday evening, Oct. 9, 2026. (Matt Barnum/WJET via AP)

In this image from video provided by WJET, police gather outside the scene of a shooting in Erie, Pa., on Friday evening, Oct. 9, 2026. (Matt Barnum/WJET via AP)

Law enforcement officers remain at the scene of a deadly shooting that occurred Friday night in Erie, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026.(WJET via AP)

Video and audio evidence recovered by investigators included muffled gunshot sounds coming from inside the home just before two “distressed” women arrived and began pounding on the door shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, he said. The gunman then came out and shot them as they ran toward him, before returning inside.

Police arrived to find the two women dead outside. After deploying a drone and robot, they went inside and found the bodies of a 5-year-old boy; a 1-year-old girl on the first floor; two more women and two young men in a stairwell; and the shooter on the second floor.

“Out of respect for the victims and the families, I will not discuss the details of what our officers encountered inside that home,” the chief said at a news conference. “But I want our community to understand the gravity of what happened and the profound impact this tragedy has had on those involved and on our community as a whole.”

Lorah declined to discuss motive but said investigators would talk to other relatives and examine the cellphones of the women who were killed outside the home.

“They knew something was going on at that house,” he said. “We have to figure out what that is.”

Lorah said officers arrived within minutes of receiving an alert via ShotSpotter, a controversial gunshot detection system that relies on artificial intelligence and a network of microphones to identify gunshots. No additional shots were fired after that.

“Sounds that may have been mistaken for gunfire came from flashbang devices — chemical munitions — used by SWAT officers,” he said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said he offered his administration’s “full support” to Erie Mayor Daria Devlin, who spoke directly to the victims’ families during the news conference.

“I am so deeply sorry. What happened to you was horrific, and there is nothing that any of us can say today that will make this any easier,” she said. “But you do need to know that our entire community is with you, we’re grieving with you. And we are here to support you.”

District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz urged the public to refrain from speculation as the investigation continues.

“Please do not allow rumors, speculation or unverified information to add to the pain that these families are already experiencing,” she said.

Erie is about 120 miles (190 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh.

Speaking at a campaign rally outside Philadelphia, Shapiro mentioned both the Erie killings and the shooting of two Philadelphia police officers early Saturday.

“Today has been a dark day across this commonwealth,” he said.

This story corrects that the total number of people found dead — nine — includes the suspected shooter.

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Jacqueline GaNun is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — With Josh Allen at quarterback, anything seems possible for the Buffalo Bills — including overcoming a sloppy first half.

“I mean, look, with Josh, we’re spoiled, right?” Bills coach Joe Brady said following a second half in which Allen oversaw three touchdown drives in a 36-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

“He literally is one of one. He’s incredible. And there’s a lot of football still ahead of him.”

In Baltimore, the Ravens face the prospect of finishing their season without Lamar Jackson.

What was supposed to be a marquee matchup of two of the NFL’s top quarterbacks ended on Baltimore’s first snap from scrimmage when Jackson hurt the right thumb on his throwing hand by jamming it on the arm of Buffalo pass rusher Greg Rousseau.

Coach Jesse Minter revealed Jackson will require surgery and be placed on injured reserve with a possibility of him missing the remainder of the season.

“It’s tough. When it happened, I think at the time you’re just hoping that maybe it’s something small,” Minter said. “And then I think pretty quickly you kind of realize what had happened.”

Compounding the Ravens troubles is backup Tyler Huntley leaving the game with a toe injury in the second quarter, leading to emergency third-stringer Joe Fagnano finishing the game.

Allen and the Bills finally took advantage over the final 30 minutes. After settling for a touchdown and three field goals in the first half, Buffalo scored touchdowns on three of its first four second-half possessions.

“Just take a breath, settle down, settle the feet down, and just go through your progressions.” Allen said of what he told himself following a sloppy first half in which Buffalo turned the ball over twice and was undone by a series of penalties.

“We’re going into halftime, just saying, ‘Hey, we’re way better than this,’” Allen said. “I think early on I felt like I was pressing. So we can’t do that.”

Allen finished 21 of 34 for 289 yards with two touchdowns passing, another rushing and an interception. In doing so, he upped his career total (including playoffs) to 260 TDs passing to break the franchise record held by Hall of Famer Jim Kelly (258).

Allen also won his 102nd game (including playoffs) to move ahead of Tom Brady for third among players through their first nine seasons.

DJ Moore scored on an 11-yard catch in his return after missing two games with a shoulder injury. Dalton Kincaid also scored on a 23-yard catch.

The AFC East-leading Bills are off to their ninth 6-1 start in franchise history.

Buffalo’s defense forced three turnovers plus a fourth down stop, added four sacks and limited the Ravens to 144 total yards.

Though the Ravens were short-handed at quarterback, the outing for Buffalo was considered a step forward for a much-criticized defense that was among the NFL’s statistically worst defense and had allowed 29 or more points in five of six outings.

The Ravens (4-4) have lost three straight with Jackson hurt in his return after missing three games with an ankle injury.

With Huntley’s status uncertain, the Ravens face difficult questions facing a short week with Baltimore hosting Jacksonville on Thursday night.

“Things happen. It’s how you respond,” Minter said.

“We’ll do everything in our power to keep rolling, to keep this thing going,” he added. “If it’s Joe, we got a lot of belief in Joe, whoever it is, but that’s what we’ll do.”

Fagnano, an undrafted rookie out of Connecticut, finished the game and went 10 of 21 for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble on a botched snap in his NFL debut. Derrick Henry scored Baltimore’s lone touchdown on a 2-yard run.

Zay Flowers, who entered the weekend fifth in the NFL with 608 yards receiving, was held without a catch on five targets.

The Bills defense finally showed some signs of playing with an attacking identity with Huntley hurt while being sacked and losing a fumble.

“I think our defense should look at today and understand that’s what the expectation is,” Brady said. “I thought that the way that they flew around today was the thing that really stood out to me.”

— Buffalo’s Tyler Bass was good on all three field-goal attempts, including a 56-yarder. He has now hit 21 straight attempts in breaking franchise record of 18 set by Rian Lindell in 2007. Bass missed all of last season with pelvis and groin injuries, with his most recent miss coming in December 2024.

— Henry’s touchdown was the 136th from scrimmage in his career, tying Marshall Faulk for fourth on the NFL list.

Ravens: CB Nate Wiggins was evaluated for a concussion in the fourth quarter.

Bills: WR Josh Palmer was ruled out after hurting his right hamstring. He pulled up while attempting to run down a deep pass in the first quarter.

Ravens: Host Jacksonville on Thursday night.

Bills: Travel for “Monday Night Football” matchup at the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 9.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here