Eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children under 6, were killed in Erie on Friday, the gunman dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Eight people, including the gunman, a pregnant woman and two children under 6, were killed in Erie on Friday.
“It was horrific. It was the worst scene I have ever experienced,” said Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah.
A candlelight vigil was held Saturday evening in front of the home on Perry Street where the tragedy occurred. Loved ones gathered to honor the victims, lighting candles, leaving balloons, and placing stuffed animals at the growing memorial.
“How do you go home and tell your kids like, hey, your mom, your siblings, your uncles and everybody else just got murdered by your grandpa?” said Lisa Simmers, a family member.
Erie police said the shooter was a 45-year-old man who was a family member of the victims. Officials have not yet released the names of the shooter or the eight victims.
Julius Windham shared that his 1-year-old daughter, Amari’anna, and her mother, Angelina, were among those killed.
“She was the person that I could always talk to and she would listen, instead of a person that you tell her something and they say every time, I understand. She would just sit there and listen to me and be quiet,” Windham said, describing Angelina as a “star” in his life and a “beautiful person.”
Simmers, Windham’s sister, said her brother is grieving.
“Although he paints a happy face on, we had to stop him from trying to hurt himself. That was the only child, and she didn’t even make it to two. She didn’t get to live her life because somebody dimmed her light out,” Simmers said.
The shooting occurred just before 5 p.m. on Friday. A ShotSpotter alert detected two gunshots outside the home, and officers arrived to find two women dead.
“My son heard the first shot go off and then we heard the screaming, and then we heard the next three that went off as well. So it was quite frightening for us to experience,” said neighbor Candice Delange.
Police surrounded the home and forced their way inside after securing a warrant. Seven people, including the gunman, were found dead inside. Officials said the gunman died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Some family members expressed frustration, believing more could have been done to intervene.
“We were here. We heard the shots. We heard everything go down, step by step. We were here while we couldn’t run into the house and help the babies,” Simmers said.
Investigators are currently reviewing evidence and video from the scene. The memorial outside the Perry Street home continues to grow as the community mourns. Police said the investigation remains active.
