Nine killed, including children, in Erie, Pennsylvania home shooting

Police responded to a gunfire alert from the ShotSpotter system at about 4:52 p.m. on Oct. 9 and found two women fatally wounded outside a residence on Perry Street, Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said. Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of a 5-year-old boy, a 1-year-old girl, four adults and the suspected shooter, a 45-year-old man, who was found with a firearm registered to him and appeared to have died from a self-inflicted wound.

The victims included eight family members and a family friend; one of the women outside the home was pregnant. All nine deaths occurred before police entered the house, and no gunshots were heard after officers arrived. Lorah noted that officers entered the home after confirming the scene was secure and that a SWAT team cleared the residence.

Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook said the identities of the deceased were being confirmed, with eight victims pronounced dead at the scene and a ninth later dying in a hospital. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities reviewing cell-phone records and other evidence. Lorah said a motive had not yet been established, though mental-health issues might be a factor, and noted the shooter had previous police contacts, the most recent in 2022.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro offered state support to Erie Mayor Daria Devlin, who said the city was coordinating with crisis and behavioral-health services for affected families. Crisis hotlines were provided for community members seeking assistance.