9 dead in Pennsylvania attack as police chief says he's never seen anything like it in 30 years
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA: Nine people have died following a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, October 9, including the suspected gunman, as investigators work to establish what happened inside and around a residence.
The scale of the loss has left local authorities struggling to describe the scene, with Erie’s police chief calling it among the most harrowing incidents he has encountered in nearly three decades of law enforcement.
Officers rushed to a home after gunfire reports
The first emergency response began just before 5 pm, when reports emerged of an armed person shooting before entering a residence in Pennsylvania, according to local news outlets.
Police were alerted to the incident through ShotSpotter, the gunshot-detection system, the Erie Police Department said.
By the time officers arrived at the property, they found that the gunfire had already ceased and no further shots were reported after their arrival.
Authorities were still working to establish the sequence of events that led to the deaths.
Some media reports said officers had tried to negotiate the suspected gunman’s surrender, while other reports raised the possibility that children were among the victims.
Officials had not yet confirmed those details.
Investigators had not released a comprehensive account of what took place or established the circumstances behind each death, leaving key questions about the shooting unanswered.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said the incident had confronted his department with an exceptionally harrowing scene.
Drawing on nearly 30 years in law enforcement, he described the case as one of the most difficult experiences for officers and investigators.
“I want to be candid with our community. This is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes our officers and investigators have ever encountered,” Lorah said, according to local media.
He stressed the magnitude of the tragedy, calling the loss of life devastating and the circumstances “deeply disturbing.”
Lorah also indicated that people had been killed both inside and outside the residence.
The suspected gunman was later found dead. Authorities said the death appeared to have been caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
I’ve spoken with Mayor Devlin and offered my Administration’s full support following the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night — killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians. My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) October 10, 2026
The Erie Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division is leading the investigation, as officers continue to examine the scene and work to determine exactly how the shooting unfolded.
Governor offers support to grieving families
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed that nine people had died and said he had spoken with Erie Mayor Daria Devlin following the tragedy.
“I’ve spoken with Mayor Devlin and offered my Administration’s full support following the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night, killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro wrote in a post on X on Saturday.
The governor also expressed sympathy for those affected, saying he and his wife, Lori, were praying for the victims’ loved ones and the wider Erie community.
The city government said the situation had been contained and that there was no continuing threat to residents.
In its statement, officials acknowledged the shock and grief the news had caused and pledged to work with the police department as verified information became available.
