Eight family members killed in Erie, Pennsylvania shooting; gunman dies by self-inflicted wound
A 45-year-old relative opened fire inside a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, killing eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, before taking his own life.
Police said a 45-year-old man shot eight people, including a pregnant woman, her unborn child, a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, inside a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening. The shooter, who was related to seven of the victims, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after police arrived.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said officers responded within minutes after a ShotSpotter alert detected gunfire. SWAT units used flash-bang devices, and a drone and robot were deployed to assess the interior before officers entered. The victims were found on multiple floors of the home, and the shooter was located on the second floor.
Family members at a memorial described the deceased as a “good guy” who had recently shown signs of decline. Julius Windham, who lost his one-year-old daughter and her mother’s unborn child, said the shooter appeared “smiling” in the days before the attack.
Mayor Daria Devlin expressed condolences, saying the police department faced “unimaginable circumstances” and acted with professionalism. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro offered state support and called the incident a “tragic mass shooting.” District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz urged the public to avoid spreading rumors while the investigation continues.