Nine people, including children, died in a massacre Friday in Erie, Pennsylvania, after an attacker armed with a gun opened fire outside a home and then entered the property, authorities said.
The alleged attacker was also found dead as police responded to the deadly violence, sparking a standoff involving Erie police officers and tactical teams.
Police discovered the killings around 5 p.m. when officers were called to a residence on reports of shots fired. Witnesses told authorities they saw an attacker with a gun outside the property before going inside.
The police officers who intervened discovered two women dead in the street, both suffering from gunshot wounds.
The situation quickly turned into a standoff as police and tactical personnel surrounded the residence. More gunshots were heard coming from inside the house and officers entered the scene.
Inside, police said they made a devastating discovery, finding seven other victims, including children, as well as the alleged attacker. Investigators believe the attacker died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah spoke about the magnitude of the mass murder, describing the scene as one of the most distressing and heartbreaking he had witnessed.
“The loss of life is devastating and the circumstances in which we operate are deeply troubling,” Lorah said. “At this time, we can confirm that the suspect is deceased. Based on the information we currently have, there is no ongoing threat to the public.”
He added: “Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and everyone affected by this tragedy. There are no words to adequately express the magnitude of the loss of life here.”
Authorities said Saturday they were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the killings, trying to determine the motive for the violence.
The city of Erie also released a statement on social media confirming that the suspected shooter was dead and the immediate danger had passed.
The statement described the case as a “terrible tragedy,” although the city’s statement did not provide additional information about the events leading up to the shooting.
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“We understand that the news causes deep shock and grief to our residents, and we want to assure the public that the situation has been brought under control,” the city said.
Figures from the Gun Violence Archive indicate that the killings in Erie are at least the 19th mass murder of the year. Such cases are defined as those in which four or more victims are murdered.
Many of these mass murders are considered family annihilations, in which an attacker kills several close family members.
The nonpartisan records also said the killings in Erie were among more than 500 mass shootings in the United States since the beginning of January. Mass shootings are defined as cases in which four or more victims are shot, fatally or otherwise.
Mass shootings have remained a persistent problem in the United States for years, often intensifying public demands for stricter gun control measures at the federal level.
Despite these calls, Congress has not enacted the restrictions sought over the years.
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