Nine Dead, Including Two Children, in Erie, Pennsylvania Mass Shooting

Nine people, including at least two children, were killed in a shooting at a home on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening, and the suspected shooter was found dead inside the residence from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The City of Erie said Saturday that all nine deaths occurred before officers arrived at the scene. Police have not released the identities of those killed, have not discussed a possible motive, and have not said whether the suspect is counted in the death toll.

Nine Dead, Including Two Children, in Erie, Pennsylvania Mass Shooting

Erie, Pennsylvania — Nine people, including at least two children, were killed at a home in the 700 block of Perry Street on Friday evening. The suspected shooter was found dead inside the home from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The City of Erie said Saturday that all nine deaths took place before officers arrived, a clarification that reshaped the public account of the night.

Nine Dead on Perry Street

The shooting unfolded at 722 Perry St., near East 7th Street, on Erie's east side, shortly before 5 p.m. local time on Friday, October 9. Responding officers found two women dead in the street outside the house, and investigators later found additional victims inside the home, in different areas of the residence, including children. The confirmed toll stands at nine people dead, including at least two children. One of the victims was pregnant at the time of the shooting, according to Erie News Now. The suspected shooter was among those found dead inside the home, with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It remained unclear as of Saturday morning how and whether the victims and the gunman knew each other.

What Police Say Happened

Witnesses told police they saw a man firing a handgun outside the residence before he entered the home. Officers responded within minutes after receiving a ShotSpotter alert, the gunshot-detection system that first flagged the gunfire. Arriving officers initially had limited information, including whether the suspected shooter remained inside the home or still posed a threat. Erie police and the department's SWAT team surrounded the residence, and officers repeatedly used a loudspeaker to order the man inside to surrender. Officers then obtained a search warrant and forced their way inside. The city said there was no ongoing threat or danger to the public and that the shooter is deceased. Police have not confirmed the exact weapon beyond the handgun witnesses described.

The Timeline the City Corrected

The City of Erie issued a clarification on Saturday, October 10, that reshaped the public understanding of the timeline. The city said all nine deaths occurred before officers arrived at the scene, correcting earlier reports about the sequence of the incident. The city also said no additional gunshots were fired after police arrived. The city's statement read: "Tonight, a terrible tragedy occurred near 7th and Perry Streets in Erie, resulting in multiple deaths. We understand that this news brings deep shock and sorrow to our residents, and we want to assure the public that the situation has been contained. The shooter is deceased, and there is no ongoing threat or danger to the public at this time." Sounds heard during the tactical response that may have been mistaken for gunfire were actually flash bangs used by law enforcement, according to the city's statement. Early local reporting had described gunshots heard during the standoff, and the Saturday statement corrected that account. The clarification came the morning after the shooting, as investigators continued to work the scene and as residents sought to reconcile what they heard Friday evening with what authorities now say happened.

The Questions Still Unanswered

A day after the shooting, the central questions remained unanswered. Police have not released the identities of those killed, have not discussed a possible motive, and have not confirmed whether the suspect is counted inside the reported death toll. The reporting on that point does not agree. NBC reports nine dead including the suspected shooter. CBS Austin notes it remains unclear if the suspect is among those reported in the total number of deaths. The Morning Call reports police have not said whether the suspect is included in the reported death toll. Police also have not detailed what, if anything, preceded the gunfire, and Chief Rick Lorah said he could not confirm or deny the number of individuals involved.

I Have Not Seen Anything Like This in My 28-Plus Years

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the scene in stark terms. "I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years," Lorah told Erie News Now. "I'm not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed." In a separate statement, Lorah said: "The loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing. Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy." He told WJET: "Yeah, it's a horrific scene. There was a large loss of life inside that residence and outside that residence." Lorah also told WJET: "I can't confirm or deny the amount of individuals that were involved here. I can tell you that this is a tragic, tragic situation." He called it by far the worst scene he has encountered in his law-enforcement career.

A Death Toll That Rose From Five to Nine

The first reports to police were of two women shot outside a home on Perry Street. Early local reporting said five people had been killed. By Saturday, the confirmed toll had risen to nine, including at least two children, after investigators found additional victims inside the home, in different areas of the residence. The shift from five to nine reflected the difficulty of the scene: officers initially had limited information about what awaited them inside, and the search of the residence unfolded over hours as police and the SWAT team worked to secure the home. The city's Saturday clarification added another layer to the public understanding, correcting earlier accounts that had described gunfire during the standoff.

The Relief Effort Begins

The Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a national nonprofit that assists families affected by violence, launched a crisis-response effort to provide support, emergency aid and advocacy services for those impacted by the Erie shooting. The foundation was established after the 2022 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and has worked in communities affected by violence in Michigan and Louisiana. Foundation President Daniel Chapin said the organization is prepared to listen to families, identify their most urgent needs, and connect them with available resources and assistance. Foundation leaders encouraged community members to respect the privacy of victims and their loved ones and to avoid sharing unverified information. The city directed anyone affected who wants to speak with a crisis counselor to Crisis Services at 814-456-2024. Erie Mayor Daria Devlin called the incident a "terrible tragedy."

The Investigation and the Coroner

The Erie Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division and the Erie County Coroner's Office are investigating the shooting. The coroner's office and the Criminal Investigations Division are both working the case at 722 Perry St. The scope includes the sequence of events inside and outside the home, the discovery of victims in different areas of the residence, and the suspected shooter's death from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The city said it would continue working closely with the Erie Police Department and would provide updates as soon as verified information becomes available. Officials have not said when more details might be released beyond the scheduled news conference.

What Happens Next

Police are expected to provide another update at a news conference scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, October 10. That briefing could address the questions that have gone unanswered since Friday evening, including whether the suspect is counted in the death toll and whether investigators have determined how the victims and the gunman knew each other. The city has said it will provide updates as soon as verified information becomes available. In the meantime, the nonprofit responding to the shooting said it would help families navigate the days ahead, and officials urged residents to rely on verified information rather than unconfirmed accounts circulating online.

The Bottom Line

Nine people, including at least two children, are dead after a shooting at a home on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday evening. Two women were found dead in the street outside the house, and additional victims were found inside the home, in different areas of the residence. The suspected shooter was found dead inside the home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The City of Erie said Saturday that all nine deaths occurred before officers arrived and that no additional gunshots were fired after police arrived, correcting earlier reports that described gunfire during the standoff. Police have released no identities and discussed no motive, and the reporting still does not agree on whether the suspect is counted in the toll. Chief Rick Lorah said he has not seen anything like this in his 28-plus years. Mayor Daria Devlin called it a "terrible tragedy."

By Jessica Ali, Staff Writer

This article was produced with AI-assisted research and editorial support. Sources: Erie News Now, CBS Pittsburgh, WPXI, WTAE, WRAL, FOX 29 Philadelphia, Fox News, The Morning Call, TribLIVE, YourErie, amedpost and LiveMint.