A tragic and devastating mass shooting occurred in Erie, Pennsylvania on Friday, October 9th, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including two children. The gunman has been reported dead, presumably from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. However, authorities have not clarified whether the gunman is included in the count of the nine deceased.
According to reports from “Erie News Now,” a subsidiary of CBS, around 5 p.m. on Friday, police received a call and rushed to Perry Street after witnesses saw a man shooting outside a residence before entering the home. Two females were found dead on the street, with more victims discovered inside the residence.
Additionally, as reported by WSEE-TV, law enforcement deployed a tactical team to surround the residence and attempted to negotiate the suspect’s surrender. Officers later entered the house, uncovering several more victims of gunshot wounds. Simultaneously, they found the suspected gunman deceased.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah expressed the indescribable nature of such a tragedy, stating, “There are no words to adequately express the profound loss of life this event has caused. Out of respect for the victims and their families, I will not disclose specifics of what law enforcement encountered on the scene today. Our investigators are currently working tirelessly to piece together the complete sequence of events. We will not speculate on the motive of the perpetrator nor disclose any information that could impede the investigation.”
Mayor of Erie, Daria Devlin, released a statement on Friday evening confirming that the situation is under control. The gunman has been neutralized, and the public is no longer facing any ongoing threats or dangers.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro took to the social media platform X on Saturday, stating, “The painful and tragic mass shooting in Erie resulted in the loss of nine fellow Pennsylvanians. I have spoken with Mayor Devlin and assured her that my administration will provide full support.”
Erie is located approximately 117 miles (188 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh.