Authorities in Erie, Pennsylvania, have identified 45-year-old Matthew Stone Sr. as the gunman who killed eight people, including seven relatives and a family friend, before taking his own life. The shooting occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, at a residence on Perry Street. Among the deceased were Stone's wife, three children, and two grandchildren.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah reported that investigators recovered audio and video evidence showing two women arrived at the home and were shot as they ran toward the door. Officers arriving at the scene found two victims outside and later located six additional victims and the gunman inside the house after deploying a drone and robot. Police have not yet established a motive but suggested mental health may have been a factor.
The victims were identified as Michelle Stone, 44, the gunman's wife; Jonathan Stone, 19, his son; Matthew Stone Jr., 21, his son; and Angelina Stone, 24, his daughter. Angelina Stone was pregnant and scheduled to be induced on Monday, Oct. 12. Also killed were Lora Roberts, 37, the gunman's sister-in-law; Twila Tanner, 51, a family friend; and two children, a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, identified by her father as Amarianna.
This event resulted in the loss of three generations of a single family. Survivors include Julius Windham, the father of the 1-year-old victim. In Erie, a community of approximately 94,000 residents, the impact included the mobilization of emergency services and the creation of public memorials at the site. Mayor Daria Devlin has publicly pledged support for those grieving.
The investigation will continue as police analyze cellphones belonging to the victims and interview relatives. There are no pending criminal charges as the gunman is deceased. Officials compared the severity of the event to a 1982 mass shooting in Wilkes-Barre. Police have not released a timeline for when the investigative report will be completed.