Victims' Relatives Say Pennsylvania Gunman Who Killed 8 Seemed Normal, His Grandfather Too

A friend of one of the victims said the gunman from Erie, Pennsylvania, was a 'good man' before he 'began his downward spiral,' killing eight people and himself.

Erie Police SWAT officers stormed the residence where nine people died in the tragedy

Nine people died in a tragedy inside a residence that was broken into by police SWAT officers in Erie, investigators have revealed. Before officers arrived, one suspect died of a gunshot wound. Officials clarify that reports of gunfire during the response were actually explosive devices and chemical munitions used by SWAT during the operation.

A man who killed eight people, including a pregnant woman and two young children, in Erie, Pennsylvania, was a grandfather who didn't seem troubled before the massacre, relatives of the victims said.

"I think it was a front for him," Julius Windham said Sunday as he stood at a memorial for the victims, who included his 1-year-old daughter, Amariana, her pregnant mother, the woman's 5-year-old son and her unborn baby.

"Every day, he's smiling and he's just — you don't think that's going to happen," Windham said.

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The 45-year-old gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the shooting Friday evening, Erie Police Chief Rick Laura said. Authorities have not publicly identified the shooter or the victims, but Laura said the gunman was related to seven of the eight people killed. The eighth victim was a friend of a pregnant woman.

Nicole and Debra Eller, whose best friend was among the victims, said they had known the family for more than 30 years.

Nicole Eller said the shooter "was a good guy, and then he started going downhill with everything."

"They were a lovely family. Who would have thought something like this would happen?" Debra Eller said. "Oh my God, this is so sad. This should never have happened to her or her children or anyone. Her grandchildren, her children, how could you do this?"

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Mourners gathered outside the home where the shooting took place on Sunday, leaving candles, flowers and stuffed animals. Windham was wearing a T-shirt with pictures of slain women and children and the words "Forever in my heart."

"Words can't even describe what I'm going through right now," Windham said. "But I have to be strong for my community, you know what I'm saying? My family, my daughters, my sons, everybody."

Laura said investigators found video and audio evidence of muffled gunshots coming from inside the home shortly before two "distressed" women arrived and began banging on the door. The gunman then got out and shot the women as they ran towards him before going back inside.

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Police said officers arrived within minutes of being alerted by ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection system. Laura said no more shots were fired after police arrived, adding that the sounds were later mistaken for gunshots from flashbang devices used by SWAT officers.

The responding officers found the two women dead outside the house. After deploying the drone and robot, the police arrived and found the bodies of a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl on the first floor. Two women and two other young men in the stairwell. And the shooter on the second floor.

"Out of respect for the victims and the families, I'm not going to talk about the details of what our officers encountered inside the home," Laura said at a news conference. "But I want our community to understand the severity of what happened and the profound impact this tragedy has had on those involved and on our community."

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Laura declined to discuss a possible motive, but suggested mental health could be a factor. He said investigators will interview relatives and examine the cell phones of the women who were killed outside their homes.

"They knew something was going on in that house," Laura said. "We need to find out what it is."

Laura said the scene was devastating for first responders.

"Some scenes stay with you long after you've left them. This is one of those sad scenes," he said.

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Erie police responded to the 700 block of Perry Street on Oct. 9, 2026, after reports of two women being shot outside a home. (Erie Police Department)

Erie Mayor Daria Devlin said the police department "arrived at a horrific scene, faced unimaginable circumstances and performed their duties with courage and professionalism."

"They are members of this community, and they will bear the brunt of what happened last night," Devlin said at a news conference Saturday, addressing the victims' families directly.

"Our whole community is with you, we mourn with you. And we are here to support you."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he spoke with Devlin and offered his state's "full support" after what he called a "tragic mass shooting." Speaking later at a campaign rally outside Philadelphia, Shapiro also mentioned the shooting of two Philadelphia police officers earlier Saturday.

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"Today has been a black day across this commonwealth," Shapiro said.

District Attorney Elizabeth Hiers urged the public not to release unconfirmed information while investigators continue their work.

"Please do not allow rumors, speculation or unconfirmed information to add to the pain of these families," Hirs said.

Eric Mack is a breaking news reporter and writer Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET. ET, with a special interest in stories leading the news cycle about politics, elections, foreign affairs and government.

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