Gunman kills 8 relatives and himself in Erie mass shooting
A gunman killed eight people before taking his own life at an Erie home, authorities announced. The deadly gunfire claimed seven relatives of the 45-year-old man and one family friend.
Authorities have not released the shooter’s name. They also have not made the victims’ names public.
Julius Windham lost his 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna, along with her pregnant mother, an unborn baby, and a 5-year-old boy. Windham said on Sunday that the gunman was a grandfather who never seemed distressed.
“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 man opened fire shortly before 5 p.m. Friday, police said. Mourners gathered on Sunday to place candles, flowers, and stuffed animals outside the residence.
Investigators recovered video and audio evidence from the property. Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said the recordings captured muffled gunshot sounds coming from inside the home.
Two distressed women then arrived and pounded on the door. Lorah said the shooter came outside and killed both women, then went back indoors.
Responding officers found the two women dead outside the residence. Officers deployed a drone and a robot before entering.
Inside, officers located the young boy and toddler dead on the first floor. They found two women and two young men dead in a stairwell. They found the gunman dead on the second floor.
“Out of respect for the victims and the families, I will not discuss the details of what our officers encountered inside that home,” Lorah said at a news conference. “But I want our 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 motive. He suggested mental health could be a factor in the incident.
Lorah said investigators will interview relatives. They also plan to examine the cellphones of the two women who died outside.
“They knew something was going on at that house,” Lorah said. “We have to figure out what that is.”
Family friends Nicole Eller and Debra Eller said they knew the household for more than 30 years. Nicole Eller said the shooter was previously a good guy before going downhill.
“They were a lovely family. Who would have thought this would ever happen?” Debra Eller said. “Oh my gosh, this is so upsetting.”
The city of Erie sits about 120 miles north of Pittsburgh. The fatal event drew comparisons to a 1982 Wilkes-Barre massacre where a man killed 13 people.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin spoke directly to the grieving families during a Saturday news conference. The city government continues to assist the victims’ surviving relatives.
“I am so deeply sorry,” Devlin said. “What happened to you was horrific, and there is nothing that any of us can say today that will make this any easier.”
Police departments routinely preserve crime scenes during multiple-fatality investigations to collect technical evidence. Investigators review digital media and execute search warrants on personal electronic devices. Detectives conduct formal interviews with surviving associates to establish timelines.
Windham attended the neighborhood memorial wearing a shirt featuring photos of his family. He said he must stay strong for his children and community.
