A horrific act of violence in Erie, Pennsylvania, has left nine people dead, including a heavily pregnant woman and her two young children. Authorities identified the gunman as a 45-year-old man who died by suicide, bringing the total number of victims to nine. The incident occurred Friday evening at a residence on the 700 block of Perry Street.
Among the deceased was 24-year-old Angelina Stone, who was eight months pregnant and preparing to welcome her third child, according to family statements and police confirmation. She was the mother of a five-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl, both of whom were also killed in the rampage. Stone had publicly shared her excitement about her upcoming due date, which was scheduled for the following Wednesday.
Police Chief Rick Lorah stated on Saturday that eight of the nine deceased individuals were related to the shooter. The other two victims were women who arrived at the residence appearing distressed and seeking help from neighbors shortly before the shootings. Ring doorbell footage captured them pounding on doors while audio appeared to indicate muffled gunfire from inside the home. The gunman reportedly emerged and shot these two women outside.
All victims inside the home were residents, while the two women outside were not. The motive behind the mass shooting remains under investigation, though Lorah suggested that mental health could be a contributing factor. Detectives are examining cell phone data and interviewing witnesses and family members to gather more information.
Law enforcement initially responded to an eerie silence at the scene, with no sounds of distress emanating from the home. Drones and a robot were deployed to locate the victims, as authorities considered the possibility of hostages, including children. Investigations confirmed that all deaths occurred prior to the arrival of local police officers. Subsequent loud noises heard were later clarified as flash bangs used during the law enforcement response, not further gunfire.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established by a relative of one of the young victims to help cover funeral expenses, describing the event as an "unthinkable tragedy" and a "painful task" for the grieving family. As of Saturday afternoon, the fundraiser had garnered approximately $11,000 towards an initial goal of $13,000.