Attacker kills nine, including children, in Erie, Pa.

Police confirm suspect among dead, say no ongoing threat

Police were called to a residence in Erie at about 5 p.m. Friday following reports of gunfire, and witnesses told authorities they had seen an attacker with a gun outside the property before he went inside. Responding officers discovered two women lying dead in the street, both having suffered fatal gunshot wounds.

The situation developed into a standoff as police officers and tactical teams surrounded the residence. Officers heard more gunshots coming from inside the home and entered, finding seven additional victims, including children, along with the suspected attacker. Investigators believe the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Erie’s police chief, Rick Lorah, described the scene as among the most distressing and heartbreaking he had witnessed. “The loss of life is devastating and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing,” Lorah said. “At this time, we can confirm that the suspect is deceased. Based on the information currently available to us, there is no ongoing threat to the public.”

“Our hearts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy,” he added. “There are no words that can adequately express the magnitude of the loss of life here.”

Authorities said Saturday that they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the killings and attempting to determine a motive for the violence.

The city of Erie issued a statement on social media confirming that the suspected shooter had died and that the immediate danger had passed, describing the case as a “terrible tragedy.” The statement did not provide further information about the events leading up to the shooting.

“We understand that the news brings deep shock and sorrow to our residents, and we want to assure the public that the situation has been contained,” the city said.

Figures from the Gun Violence Archive indicate that the killings in Erie marked at least the 19th mass murder of the year, a category the group defines as incidents in which four or more victims are murdered. Many of this year’s mass murders have been what are considered family annihilations, in which an attacker kills multiple close family members.

The archive also counted the Erie killings among more than 500 mass shootings across the United States since the beginning of January. Mass shootings are defined as cases in which four or more victims are shot, whether fatally or non-fatally.

Mass shootings have remained a persistent problem in the United States for years, often intensifying public demands for stronger gun control measures at the federal level. Congress has not enacted such restrictions, despite those calls.