9 Dead in Pa. Mass Shooting; Police Chief Describes Worst Scene of His Career

All nine victims, including the suspected gunman, were dead before Erie police arrived at a home where officers later discovered one of the city's deadliest crime scenes.

Oct. 10, 2026

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Nine people, including the suspected gunman, were killed at an Erie home in what the police chief called the worst scene he has witnessed in over 28 years.
Police initially responded to reports of a man firing a handgun outside the home and found two women dead in the street; additional victims, including at least two children, were later found inside the house.
Officials said all deaths occurred before officers arrived, and investigators found no evidence that a prolonged standoff or police response delay contributed to the loss of life.

By Megan Guza

Source Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Nine people were killed in a shooting and standoff Friday at a home in Erie, a scene that at least one veteran police official called the worst he’s ever seen.

The incident began unfolding shortly before 5 p.m. at a house in the city’s East Side, about a mile northwest of downtown.

Authorities told Erie News Now that officers initially responded to a report of a man firing a handgun outside a home in the 700 block of Perry Street. First responders arrived and found two women shot to death in the street.

The situation turned into a standoff, authorities said, and police and SWAT officers surrounded the home. It wasn’t clear immediately when police and SWAT officers ultimately made entry to the home but when they did, they discovered more victims, including at least two children.

The gunman was among the deceased, city officials said, and police told Your Erie he appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot.

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah told Erie News Now that the scene is the worst he’s seen.

“I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years,” he told the outlet. “I’m not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed.”

He called the situation devastating and “deeply disturbing.”

In a press release issued late Saturday morning, city and police officials sought to quell rumors that a delay in response might have added to the loss of life.

“Investigators have determined that all deaths occurred before officers arrived,” officials said. “The deaths were not the result of any prolonged standoff or delay in police action.”

Officials said that officers arrived at the Perry Street home “within minutes” of receiving the alert from ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system. No shots were fired inside the home after police arrived, according to the release.

Officials said responding officers had limited information when they first arrived, “including whether the individual remained inside or posed an ongoing threat.

“They continued assessing the situation and gathering information while seeking a search warrant,” officials said.

A press conference is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a social media post late Saturday morning that he’d spoken with Erie Mayor Daria S. Devlin to offer his administration’s support.

“My heart breaks for this family,” he wrote. “Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R- Butler, whose district includes Erie, said he’s praying for the community.

“May we hold the victims, their families, and those impacted by this tragedy in our hearts,” he said.

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