Grandfather Kills Nine Family Members in Pennsylvania Murder-Suicide
The 45-year-old suspect died by suicide after shooting his daughter, two grandchildren, and other relatives in Erie.
A grandfather is responsible for the deaths of nine family members, including his pregnant daughter and two young grandchildren, in a murder-suicide incident in Erie, Pennsylvania. The 45-year-old suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the family home late Friday, with the murder weapon found beside him, according to authorities.
The shooting spree inside the home was followed by the suspect stepping outside to fatally shoot two women, ages 51 and 37, who had arrived at the scene. He then returned inside and took his own life.
Among the victims was Angelina Stone, who was days away from giving birth to her third child. Her unborn son, named Kyrie, was added to the death toll, bringing the total to 10. Stone's two other children, 5-year-old Isaiah and almost 2-year-old Amari’anna, were also killed in the attack. The suspect has not yet been officially identified by authorities.
"Angelina’s father killed Angelina and her children in a murder-suicide, and now our family is facing the painful task of laying them to rest," stated an online fundraiser created to help with funeral costs. The father of Amari’anna, Juicesiyah Alexander Ezekiel, told Erie News Now that the shooter was his child's grandfather.
Another victim, Lora Roberts, was remembered as a "loving mother of five, a devoted fiancée, a cherished daughter, family member, and friend to so many."
The violence occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday in a home on Perry Road. Investigators reviewed video and audio evidence showing gunshots inside the residence before two women arrived and began pounding on the door. The suspect emerged from the house and shot them before re-entering.
Upon arrival, police discovered the bodies of the two women outside. A drone and robot were deployed during a standoff before officers entered the home. Inside, they found the bodies of a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl on the first floor. Two other women and two men were discovered dead in a stairwell, and the shooter's body was found upstairs. Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the scene as "horrific" and the worst he had ever experienced.
A candlelight vigil was held Saturday night outside the home, where community members gathered to mourn the victims.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro acknowledged the tragedy, calling it a "dark day across this commonwealth," in addition to addressing the fatal ambush of two Philadelphia police officers that occurred over the weekend.