ERIE, Pennsylvania — A family gathering in Erie ended in devastating violence Friday, October 9, when a 45-year-old man fatally shot eight people, including two young children and a pregnant woman who was just days away from giving birth, before taking his own life.
The shooting has left relatives, friends and neighbors struggling to understand how such a tragedy could unfold within a family. Among those mourning the victims is Julius Windham, whose 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna, was killed alongside her mother, Angelina Stone, and her 5-year-old brother.
Speaking Sunday at a memorial outside the home, Windham described the gunman as someone who had not appeared outwardly troubled in everyday interactions.
“He was smiling and just acting normal,” Windham said, expressing disbelief that someone who seemed so ordinary could be responsible for such devastating violence.
For Windham, the loss extends beyond the death of his young daughter. A pregnant mother and an unborn child were also among those killed, leaving loved ones grieving multiple lives lost in a single incident.
Eight Victims Killed as Police Investigate the Attack
Authorities said the shooting happened shortly before 5 p.m. Friday at a residence in Erie, a city in northwestern Pennsylvania, about 120 miles north of Pittsburgh.
The gunman, later identified by the Erie County coroner as Matthew Stone Sr., 45, was related to seven of the eight victims. The remaining victim was a friend of the pregnant woman, according to police.
The adult victims included Angelina Stone, 24, who was expected to give birth on Monday; Michelle Stone, 44; Jonathan Stone, 19; and Matthew Stone, 21. The two women killed outside the residence were identified as Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51.
A 5-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl also died. Their names were not publicly released by authorities because of state law, although Windham identified his daughter as Amarianna.
Investigators have not established a motive for the attack. Police Chief Rick Lorah said the investigation remains active, with detectives interviewing relatives and examining evidence that could help explain what happened inside the home.
Two Women Appeared to Be Seeking Help
Investigators are examining video and audio evidence that captured events shortly before the shooting.
According to police, muffled gunshots could be heard coming from inside the residence before two women arrived. The women appeared distressed and began knocking forcefully on the door.
The gunman then came outside and shot the women as they moved toward him, police said. Officers responding to the scene found both women dead outside the home.
Police subsequently used a drone and a robot to assess the situation before entering the residence. Inside, officers discovered the bodies of the two children, four additional adults and the gunman, who had died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Chief Lorah said investigators believe the two women may have known something was happening inside the home before they arrived. Their actions and communications could help detectives reconstruct the final moments leading up to the attack.
Authorities have not publicly confirmed what prompted the women to go to the residence or whether they were attempting to intervene in an ongoing dispute.
Police also said the victims had died before officers arrived. Investigators are continuing to review the circumstances surrounding the response and the events that unfolded at the property.
Community Members Remember the Victims
By Sunday, the area outside the home had become a memorial filled with flowers, candles and stuffed animals. Residents gathered to remember the victims and support families facing an extraordinary loss.
Windham wore a shirt featuring photographs of the women and children who died, along with the words “Forever In My Heart.”
He said he was trying to remain strong for his family and community despite the pain of losing his daughter.
Friends of the family also expressed shock over the violence. Nicole and Debra Eller, who said they had known the family for more than three decades, described the tragedy as difficult to comprehend.
One of the women killed outside the home, Lora Roberts, was remembered by friends as a compassionate person who helped others. She was a mother of five and had volunteered with a community organization supporting people experiencing homelessness.
Her death has added another layer of grief for those who knew her and the family she was trying to help.
Gunman’s Identity Released as Questions Remain
On Monday, October 12, the Erie County coroner publicly identified the gunman as Matthew Stone Sr. and released the names of six of the eight people he killed. The names of the two young children remained undisclosed publicly.
Despite the identification of the victims and the gunman, investigators have not announced a confirmed motive. Police Chief Lorah has indicated that mental health could be a factor, but officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions while the investigation continues.
Authorities are expected to rely on interviews, digital evidence and other investigative findings to establish what led to the shooting.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin offered condolences to the victims’ relatives and acknowledged the scale of the loss facing the community.
She said the city was grieving alongside the families and pledged support for those affected by the tragedy.
For the relatives left behind, the investigation may eventually provide answers, but it cannot undo the loss of eight lives, including two young children, a mother preparing to welcome a baby and an unborn child who never had the chance to be born.
As flowers and other tributes continue to mark the site, the community faces the difficult task of mourning the victims while waiting for investigators to clarify what led to one of the most devastating incidents in the city’s recent history.
