9 people, including 2 children, dead in suspected murder-suicide at Pennsylvania home

Nine people were killed – including two children and a pregnant woman – when a gunman opened fire in a suspected murder-suicide at a Pennsylvania home on Friday night, according to officials.

Police responded to reports of a shooting at around 5 p.m. at a home in the city of Erie  and found two women fatally shot in the road outside the house and six additional victims, along with the deceased suspect, inside the home.

“It was horrific. It was the worst scene I have ever experienced,” Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said at a press conference.

“We said that there were a devastating amount of people inside there. There’s more than five. We were not sure at that point we could say ten because one of those individuals is pregnant.”

Lorah stated that of the nine total dead, eight were related to each other — including the shooter — while one of the victims killed outside was a family friend.

“I think that mental health is at play here,” said Lorah, adding that “I think it’s too soon to really go into a motive at this time.”

The victims included a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl on the first floor; two women, including a 24-year-old and a 44-year-old, and two men, ages 19 and 21, in the second-floor stairwell; and two women, ages 51 and 37, found outside.

The suspect, a 45-year-old male, reportedly shot himself afterward. A firearm was found on him.

Lorah stated that no gunshots were fired after officers arrived on the scene and that loud noises heard during the police response were from flashbang devices used by the SWAT team.

Police say they recovered camera footage from a next-door neighbor’s home showing two women arriving at the house in distress, pacing and pounding on the door to get someone’s attention.

“We received a Ring doorbell camera from a residence right next door that also records audio,” explained Lorah. 

“And in that is where we were able to see those two females pacing back and forth outside the residence, they were trying to get neighbor’s attention, they were pounding on the door,” he continued. 

“We hear what we believe to be what we assume to be muffled gunshots in that audio, very faintly, scream, and a few shots fired and that’s where we believe those two outside victims were hit.”

Erie mayor Daria Delvin expressed her condolences to the families who lost loved ones and offered the community’s support.

“I want to start by speaking directly to the families who lost loved ones last night. I am so deeply sorry,” said Mayor Devlin. 

“What happened was horrific, and I know there is nothing I can say today that will make this any easier. But I want you to know that our entire community is thinking of you, grieving with you, and here to support you.” 

The shooting happened on the 700 block of Perry Street, located on Erie’s East Side, a historically working-class area.

Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz cautioned the public not to spread rumors or misinformation outside of the authorities’ official narrative as the shooting is investigated.

“As the investigation continues, I want to make an important appeal to our community,” said Hirz. 

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