Nine people died in a mass shooting Friday evening in Erie, Pennsylvania, with the suspected gunman among the dead after shooting himself, police confirmed.
Police received initial reports of gunfire around 5 p.m. local time near a residential address on Perry Street. Officers arrived within minutes of receiving an alert via ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system that relies on artificial intelligence and a network of microphones to identify gunshots. All nine deaths occurred before officers arrived at the scene, according to the city.
Witnesses reported a man with a handgun opened fire outside a home before entering the building. Officers finding two women with gunshot wounds on the street pronounced both dead. The suspect barricaded himself inside the residence, which was surrounded by police and SWAT personnel.
Law enforcement attempted to persuade the man to surrender. During the operation, additional gunfire erupted from inside the building. When officers entered, they discovered the bodies of six more victims inside the home, including children. The suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Among the nine deceased were a pregnant woman and two children, according to authorities. No additional shots were fired after police response began. The city clarified that sounds heard during the police response that may have been mistaken for gunfire were flash bangs associated with law enforcement's tactical response.
Authorities said no connection between the shooter and victims had been established at the time of reporting. The motive for the killings remained undetermined, and officials said precise circumstances of the deaths would not be disclosed out of respect for the victims.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said he had not encountered a comparable incident in his 28-year career. "The loss of life is devastating and the circumstances are profound," Lorah stated. He described the crime scene conditions as "very disturbing" and said he was uncertain whether Erie had ever experienced such loss of life and destruction.
"At this time we can confirm that the suspect is dead. According to the information we have, there is no danger to the population," Lorah said.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed the death toll in a statement to media outlets. The Erie Police Department announced plans to hold a press conference Saturday afternoon to provide further details about the incident.