Police Reveal New Details In Erie Shooting That Killed 9

Updated, 5:15 p.m.

ERIE, PA — Two young children and a pregnant woman were among eight people killed by a gunman who opened fire at a home in Erie on Friday before apparently taking his own life, authorities said Saturday.

Erie police Chief Rick Lorah said the 45-year-old gunman was related to seven of the eight victims. The eighth was the pregnant woman's friend.

The victims included a 5-year-old boy, a 1-year-old girl, four women and two young men. Police have not publicly released their identities.

The shooting happened in the 700 block of Perry Street, where officers responding to reports of gunfire shortly before 5 p.m. found two women dead outside a home and six other victims inside, along with the suspected shooter.

Video and audio evidence recovered by investigators showed two distressed women arriving at the home and pounding on the door, Lorah said. The gunman came outside and shot both women before returning to the house.

Investigators believe the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police have not determined what prompted the shooting. Lorah said investigators plan to interview additional relatives and examine the cellphones of the women killed outside the home to learn what happened before the gunfire.

"They knew something was going on at that house," Lorah said. "We have to figure out what that is."

Officers arrived within minutes of receiving an alert from ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system that uses microphones and artificial intelligence to identify possible gunfire.

City officials said all nine people were dead before police arrived and no additional shots were fired during the police response.

Sounds that some residents may have mistaken for gunfire were flash-bang devices used by officers during their tactical response, according to the city.

Investigators with the Erie Bureau of Police and the Erie County Coroner's Office continued processing the scene and gathering evidence.

Lorah described the shooting as the most devastating incident he has encountered in his law enforcement career.

"I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years," Lorah said. "I'm not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he offered his administration's full support to Erie Mayor Daria Devlin following the shooting.

City officials said the suspected gunman was dead and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Residents affected by the tragedy can contact Crisis Services at 814-456-2014 for counseling and support.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.