Authorities confirmed nine people are dead following a shooting in Pennsylvania Friday night, including the suspected gunman, who reportedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police responded to a home just before 5 p.m. local time after witnesses reported seeing a person firing a weapon before entering the house, according to a report from Fox8 Live.
The officers arrived on scene shortly after receiving an alert from the ShotSpotter app, the Erie Police Department said in a statement.
Erie Police also said all shots were fired before they arrived and that no shots were fired after they reached the scene.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the scene as the worst he had encountered in nearly three decades in law enforcement, telling local media that investigators were still trying to determine exactly what happened.
“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. The loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing,” Lorah said, according to Fox8.
POLICE REVEAL NEW DETAILS ABOUT GUNMAN, 5 VICTIMS KILLED IN RURAL MICHIGAN SHOOTING RAMPAGE
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued a statement confirming the number killed during the incident while offering support to victims’ families.
“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 Saturday morning post on X.
“My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community,” he concluded.
WFXP reported that the Erie SWAT team and numerous police officers surrounded the home before obtaining a warrant and entering the property.
“It’s a horrific scene,” Lorah told the station. “There was a large loss of life inside that residence and outside that residence. … I can tell you that this is a tragic, tragic situation.”
MULTIPLE PEOPLE KILLED IN SHOOTING AT IDAHO IN-N-OUT RESTAURANT, SUSPECT DEAD
Lorah told the station that the suspected shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The city of Erie issued a statement about the shooting, saying the incident resulted in “multiple deaths” and confirming that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
“We understand that this news brings deep shock and sorrow to our residents, and we want to assure the public that the situation has been contained,” the city said.
“Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by tonight’s tragedy,” the statement continued. “We will continue working closely with our Erie Police Dept, and will provide updates as soon as verified information becomes available.”
Erie police told Fox News Digital that investigators were still processing the crime scene and that Lorah was expected to provide an update Saturday morning.
The department’s Criminal Investigations Division continues to investigate the shooting.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
