ERIE, Pa. – Nine people are dead, including two children and an eight-month pregnant woman, after a domestic shooting in Erie, Police Chief Rick Lorah said during a press conference.
On October 9th at approximately 4:53 p.m., authorities responded to reports of two gunshots in the 700 block of Perry Street in Erie.
According to Chief Lorah, officers arrived on the scene within minutes after receiving the call and discovered two deceased females, a 51-year-old and a 37-year-old, outside the home.
Officers evaluated video evidence of the scene, which showed the two women arriving at the house distressed, seeking assistance, and pounding on the doors of surrounding neighbors’ homes, officials said.
The video then captured muffled gunfire from inside the residence before the suspect emerged from the house and fatally shot both women, Lorah said.
Nearby witnesses confirmed this series of events and said that no additional gunshots were heard after the suspect returned inside.
When officers arrived on the scene, they did not go inside the home immediately, as they were unaware if there was any remaining threat.
Lorah said officers were unsure if the suspect remained inside the home armed, or if he had fled the scene. He stated the officers additionally had to consider the possibility of hostages and if there were children present.
While waiting to obtain a search warrant, officers detected no movement or sound from inside the residence, so they breached doors and moved inside the home.
Upon entering the house, officers found seven additional victims who had sustained fatal gunshot wounds, Lorah confirmed.
The chief says two young children were found dead on the first floor, including a five-year-old boy and a one year and 10 month old girl.
He said four additional victims were found in the second-floor stairwell. These victims include a 24-year-old woman, a 44-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, and a 21-year-old man.
Additionally, Lorah stated the 45-year-old shooter was found dead on the second floor from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was found on his person, which is suspected to be the murder weapon, police say.
Authorities have confirmed that eight of the victims were family members, and one was a family friend.
Chief Lorah additionally said that one of the victims was eight months pregnant.
According to both authorities and witnesses, no gunshots were fired after officers arrived on the scene.
“Some scenes stay with you long after you leave them. This is one of those tragic scenes. Out of respect for the victims and the families, I will not discuss the details of what our officers encountered inside that home,” Lorah said.
The police chief said this investigation remains active. Authorities will continue to share confirmed information as it becomes available.
“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 concluded his statement by saying.
Gov. Josh Shapiro offered his administration’s “full support” to Erie Mayor Daria Devlin on Saturday.
“My heart breaks for this family,” Shapiro wrote on X. “Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community.”
There has been no word on a possible motive behind the shooting, but the investigation is ongoing, authorities confirm.
“I’m not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed,” Lorah said.
Erie Mayor Daria S. Devlin shared her condolences with the community and spoke directly to the grieving family of the deceased victims at the press conference.
“Our entire community is with you, were grieiving with you, and we are here to support you,” she said.
“The impact of this tragedy reaches far beyond what we can see today,” Devlin added.