Pennsylvania mass shooting: What we know about 9 people killed

Pennsylvania mass shooting: What we know regarding 9 residents killed.

Key points

• UPMC Crisis Services is available 24 hours a day at 814-456-2014, Devlin remarked.
• Four more victims were discovered in a stairwell on the second floor: a 24-year-old woman, a 44-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man.
• Josh Shapiro remarked he had spoken with Erie Mayor Daria Devlin and offered the state's backing after the shooting.
• Nine individuals, including children and the suspected shooter, are dead after a mass shooting at a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Oct.
• After finding the two fatally wounded women outside, officers surrounded the home before members of the Erie Bureau of Police SWAT Team entered and cleared the residence.

Pennsylvania mass shooting: What we know regarding 9 residents killed. Anthony Thompson, Tim Hahn USA TODAY. Officers met with 'eerie silence' at scene of Erie mass shooting.

Police responding to a shooting at an Erie, Pennsylvania home were met with an "eerie silence" before finding nine individuals dead inside.

Nine individuals, including children and the suspected shooter, are dead after a mass shooting at a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Oct. 9, authorities remarked.

Erie police received reports of gunfire and individuals shot at 4: 52 p.m. Friday and responded to the 700 block of Perry Street, where officers discovered two women fatally wounded outside a home, Police Chief Rick Lorah stated. Extra victims, and the suspected gunman, were identified inside the residence.

In practice, the suspected shooter was discovered with a gun and appeared to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. A neighbor had documented seeing a person matching the suspect's description shooting at the two women outside, Lorah stated.

Authorities published further details regarding the victims' ages and their relationships during a news conference on Oct. 10. Police remarked eight of the nine residents who died were related to one another, including the suspected shooter. The remaining victim was a family friend. One of the victims was eight months pregnant. Here's what we know regarding the Erie mass shooting. What happened in the shooting?

Police responded to the residence after receiving an alert from the city's ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, according to city authorities. Officers arrived within minutes of the shots fired report, Lorah remarked.

After finding the two fatally wounded women outside, officers surrounded the home before members of the Erie Bureau of Police SWAT Team entered and cleared the residence. Investigators determined that all the deaths occurred before officers arrived, according to an Oct. 10 city news release.

Authorities stated no gunshots were fired in the area between officers' arrival and the SWAT team's clearance of the home. Sounds that may have been mistaken for gunfire during the response were flash bangs applied by law enforcement, the city stated.

For context, the city additionally emphasized that the deaths did not result from a prolonged standoff or a delay in police action. Officers initially had limited information regarding whether the suspected shooter remained inside or posed an ongoing threat, according to the release.

During the news conference, Lorah remarked officers arrived concerning three minutes after the ShotSpotter alert. He remarked officers heard no gunshots or cries for assist and saw no movement inside the home. The doors were locked and the windows were covered, he remarked.

Lorah remarked officers were prepared to enter the residence immediately if they heard gunfire or cries for assist, or saw someone trying to escape or signal for assistance. He remarked obtaining a search warrant was not a factor in deciding whether to enter the home. Who were the victims?

Nine individuals, including the suspected shooter, were killed. Authorities had not publicly published the victims' names as of the afternoon of Oct. 10, nor the gunman's identity.

Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook remarked his office was beginning to confirm the identities of the deceased. While another was taken to a hospital and was afterwards pronounced dead, Cook noted, eight individuals were pronounced dead at the scene.

Notably, the coroner's office had not ruled on the deaths as of the afternoon of Oct. 10. Authorities had not unveiled whether autopsies would be performed.

Lorah identified the two women discovered outside the home only as a 51-year-old woman and a 37-year-old woman. Inside, officers discovered a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl who were on the first floor.

Notably, the suspected shooter was a 45-year-old man, Lorah remarked. He was discovered dead on the second floor with a firearm. It police stated was registered to him.

While the two women discovered outside did not, lorah remarked the victims identified inside the home lived there. He remarked one of the women outside was a family friend, and the other was a sister-in-law of one of the victims. Multiple individuals killed in Pennsylvania shooting, suspected shooter identified dead.

Multiple individuals were killed in a noted shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, that the city's police chief called the most horrific thing he has seen in his lengthy law enforcement career. What was the motive?

Lorah described the scene as the most horrific he had encountered during his law enforcement career. The city pressed residents to avoid sharing unverified information or speculation, saying it could deepen the pain of grieving families and create unnecessary fear.

During the news conference, Lorah remarked it was too early to determine a motive. He remarked investigators were reviewing cellphones, examining evidence and speaking with family members and witnesses to learn more concerning what happened.

Lorah remarked he believed mental health could be a factor, but emphasized that investigators had not established a motive. Though the last interaction he could recall was in 2022, he additionally stated police had a history of contact with the suspected shooter. How has Pennsylvania responded?

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro remarked he had spoken with Erie Mayor Daria Devlin and offered the state's backing after the shooting.

"I've spoken with Mayor Devlin and offered my Administration's full backing after the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night – killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians. My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community, " Shapiro remarked.

Devlin remarked during the press conference the city was working with crisis services, behavioral health providers, schools and other community partners to connect affected families and residents with backing. She pressed residents to respect the privacy of grieving families and share accurate information.

UPMC Crisis Services is available 24 hours a day at 814-456-2014, Devlin remarked. Allegheny Health Network Behavioral Health can be reached at 814-866-8484.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on X @athompsonUSAT. This story was updated to add shooting map. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

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