Nine people died in a shooting Friday near East Seventh and Perry streets, city officials said, as Gov. Josh Shapiro offered state assistance and police worked to establish what happened.
Authorities said the suspected shooter was dead and residents faced no continuing danger. The city’s Saturday statement reported nine deaths without explicitly specifying whether the suspect was included in that total.
Two children were among those killed, WPXI reported, citing Erie News Now. The station reported that officers found two women dead outside a home on Perry Street and additional victims inside.
In an update reproduced by TalkErie, the city and police department said investigators determined that all deaths occurred before officers arrived. Police reached the scene within minutes of receiving a ShotSpotter alert.
That update corrected early reports suggesting gunshots continued during the police response. Officials said officers heard no further gunfire after arriving; sounds mistaken for shots were flash-bangs used during their tactical response. Officers were assessing the danger and seeking a search warrant.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah called the circumstances “deeply disturbing.” In remarks transcribed by TalkErie, he withheld details of what officers encountered out of respect for the victims and their families. He said investigators needed time to establish the circumstances and would not speculate about a motive.
“I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years,”
Shapiro said he had spoken with Mayor Daria Devlin and offered his administration’s “full support.”
“My heart breaks for this family,” he wrote. “Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community.”
Authorities had not publicly identified the victims or suspect, according to 6abc Philadelphia. Erie officials scheduled a news conference for 4 p.m. Saturday to address the investigation and police response.
Philadelphia Officer Killed in Separate Shooting
Shapiro also mourned Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, who died after a separate shooting early Saturday in West Philadelphia.
Seiber, 40, was a 10-year police veteran and leaves behind a wife and two children, KYW Newsradio reported, citing Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel. Another officer was wounded, and police took a suspect into custody.
In the statement supplied for this report, Shapiro said he ordered U.S. and Pennsylvania flags lowered to half-staff on Commonwealth grounds in Seiber’s honor. He offered condolences to the officer’s loved ones and fellow officers.
