Nine people, including a pregnant woman, two young children, and the suspected shooter, died in a mass shooting at an Erie, Pennsylvania, home on Friday evening. Police responding to a ShotSpotter alert found two victims dead outside before discovering six more bodies inside, prompting an investigation.
ShotSpotter Alert Triggers Police Response on Perry Street
Erie police officers arrived at the 700 block of Perry Street within minutes of a ShotSpotter gunshot detection system alert that registered two gunshots at approximately 4:53 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026. Responding units found two women dead outside the residence.
Neighboring doorbell camera footage reviewed by investigators captured the two women appearing distressed as they pounded on a door and tried to alert neighbors before gunfire erupted from inside the property. Police later established that neither of the women found outside lived at the house.
I want to be candid with our community. This is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes our officers and investigators have ever encountered.
Chief Rick Lorah, Erie Police Department
Tactical Teams Find Shooter Dead Inside Home
When tactical teams breached the home, they encountered what Chief Rick Lorah described as an “eerie silence.” Officers utilized drones and a police robot to assess the interior before entering after breaching several doors with SWAT personnel.
Chief Lorah and local authorities detailed the grim toll at a press conference, noting that officers found no movement, audible sounds, gunshots, or screams when they entered the residence. Investigators confirmed that the shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and a .40-caliber handgun registered to the 45-year-old suspect was recovered on his person. The sequence of events indicated that the gunman emerged to shoot the two women outside before returning inside, where no further gunshots were reported. Officials stated that eight of the deceased were related, while one of the women killed outside was a family friend and the other served as a sister-in-law to one of the victims. Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook confirmed that the tragic death toll also includes the unborn child of the pregnant victim, bringing the total lives lost to ten when counting the unborn baby alongside the nine fatalities.
- A 51-year-old woman and a 37-year-old woman found dead outside the residence. Police identified one as a family friend and the other as a sister-in-law to one of the victims.
- A 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl found on the first floor.
- A 24-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant, a 44-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man, and a 21-year-old man found on the second floor and in the stairwell.
- The 45-year-old suspected shooter, found on the second floor with a firearm registered to him.
Authorities determined that eight of the deceased individuals were related to one another, with the suspect included among family members. The Erie County Coroner’s office also confirmed that the death toll accounts for the unborn child of the pregnant victim.
State and Local Officials Offer Support Following the Shooting
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro took to social media to confirm he had spoken with Erie Mayor Daria Devlin and offered state administrative resources following the tragedy. Mayor Devlin praised the responding officers, stating that they faced unimaginable circumstances and carried out their duties with courage and professionalism. Local leaders emphasized the profound grief impacting the community and urged the public to respect the privacy of grieving families while relying exclusively on verified information. To assist those affected, the city coordinated with UPMC Crisis Services and Allegheny Health Network Behavioral Health to make 24/7 counseling support and resources accessible to residents.
I’ve spoken with Mayor Devlin and offered my Administration’s full support following the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night — killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians. My heart breaks for this family.
Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
Law enforcement officials emphasized that all victims had sustained fatal wounds before officers arrived, and noted that loud noises heard during the operation were flashbangs and chemical munitions deployed by SWAT personnel rather than additional gunfire. Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz and local leaders urged the public to avoid spreading unverified rumors while the Criminal Investigations Division works to establish a motive.