Christine Drews Sieger
Nine people were killed in a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening.
Nine people, including a suspect and two young children, were killed in a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening.
Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert on Perry Street in Erie around 4:53 p.m. Friday, arriving at the scene three minutes later. Patrol units immediately found two dead women lying outside a residence.
According to footage from a neighboring doorbell camera, the two women—aged 37 and 51—had sought help at a nearby house before being fatally shot outside the residence.
Neither victim lived at the property. Authorities identified one woman as a family friend and the other as a sister-in-law to a resident, Fox News reports.
Police investigation
SWAT officers later entered the residence, where they discovered six additional victims across two floors.
Police found a 22-month-old girl and a 5-year-old boy dead on the ground floor, according to Fox News.
On the second floor and in a stairwell, officers located four adult victims, including a woman who was eight months pregnant.
The 45-year-old suspect died on the second floor from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities recovered a registered .40-caliber handgun at the scene.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the incident during a news conference, calling it “one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes our officers and investigators have ever encountered.”
Support for Erie
Investigators confirmed that all eight victims died before officers reached the neighborhood.
According to Fox News, city officials stated that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin said local officials are coordinating with crisis services, healthcare providers, and schools to offer trauma support to affected families and residents.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro offered full state resources to city leaders, posting on X: “My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community.”
