Nine reported dead, including two children, in Erie, Pennsylvania home shooting

Mixed · 2A gunman opened fire at a home on the 700 block of Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, at around 5 p.m. on Friday, 9 October, killing multiple people including two children and a pregnant woman. 1 2 Mixed · 2Officers found two women with fatal gunshot wounds outside the house; Newsweek reported that a neighbour told investigators a man had shot the pair before going inside. 1 3 Mixed · 2The suspect, reportedly armed with a handgun, barricaded himself inside, prompting a SWAT standoff during which shots were heard; police later entered after securing a warrant and found more victims in different parts of the property. 1 3

Mixed · 2Police Chief Rick Lorah said the suspect was dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and that there was no ongoing threat to the public. 3 4 Mixed · 3Lorah did not confirm the number of dead, saying he could neither confirm nor deny it; reports citing local station Erie News Now put the toll at nine, and Newsweek said it could be at least nine including the shooter, while CBS said it was unclear whether the suspect is counted in that total. 1 3 4 Mixed · 2Fox News reported that Lorah confirmed to WFXP that two women had been killed but would not confirm the exact number of victims, saying there was a "large loss of life inside that residence and outside that residence"; The Times of India stated that at least nine people died. 5 6

Mixed · 2Lorah called it one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes officers and investigators had encountered, and declined to describe details out of respect for the victims; Newsweek reported he said it was the worst crime scene he had seen in almost three decades in law enforcement. 4 3 Mixed · 2No motive has been established, the gunman and victims have not been publicly identified, and the relationship between them is unknown; investigators were interviewing relatives and potential witnesses. 1 3 Centre · 1Mayor Daria Devlin called the shooting a “terrible tragedy” and the city said the situation had been contained; police were expected to give an update on Saturday. 3

Right · 1Fox News, citing Fox8 Live, reported that police were called to the home just before 5 p.m. after witnesses saw a person firing a weapon before entering the house; it said Erie police told it the Criminal Investigations Division continues to investigate and that Lorah was expected to give an update on Saturday morning. 5