Nine people, including two young children and a pregnant woman, were killed in a shooting at a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, in what the city’s police chief described as a “devastating” loss of life.

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said officers responded to a shot spotter call and found two women, ages 37 and 51, deceased outside the home.

Officers did not immediately enter the residence as they were trying to establish whether a suspect was still active and what the situation was, according to Lorah, who emphasized that no gunshots were fired after officers responded.

Lorah said once law enforcement entered the home they found a “horrific” scene, including a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year 10-month-old girl on the first floor.

Officers then found four additional victims, a 24-year-old woman, a 44-year-old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 21-year-old man. The pregnant female was found inside the residence, Lorah said.

While no motive has been given, Lorah said the suspect, a 45-year-old male, was found with a gun on his person on the second floor. He appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Lorah said that out of nine people who died, including the suspect, eight of them were family members and one was a family friend.

According to the chief, the residents did have a history of calls to 911, but the last call was in 2022. He said that is part of the investigation.

“It was horrific. It was worst scene I have ever experienced,” Lorah said.

Governor Josh Shapiro wrote in an X post on Saturday morning that he spoke with Mayor Daria Devlin and offered his administration’s full support following the mass shooting.

“My heart breaks for this family. Lori and I are praying for their loved ones and the entire Erie community,” he wrote.

Newsweek emailed the Erie Police Department and the Medical Examiner’s office for further information Saturday.

City Defends Police Response

Police were called to the 700 block of Perry Street on Friday just before 5 p.m. on Erie’s East Side where officers found two mortally wounded women outside a residence.

A neighbor told investigators that a man had shot the pair before going into the house, Lorah said.

Responding officers surrounded the building as the emergency developed into a SWAT operation. After securing a warrant, police forced their way inside.

In a statement emailed to Newsweek on Saturday morning, city officials defended the police department’s response.

“Officers responded promptly, arriving on the scene within minutes of receiving a ShotSpotter alert. Nine people lost their lives in this tragedy,” the statement read, noting that the deaths occurred before officers arrived at the scene and “were not the result of any prolonged standoff or delay in police action.”

“No additional gunshots were fired after police arrived,” the city explained in the statement, adding “sounds heard during the police response that may have been mistaken for gunfire were flash bangs associated with law enforcement’s tactical response.”

“Officers had limited information upon arrival, including whether the individual remained inside or posed an ongoing threat. They continued assessing the situation and gathering information while seeking a search warrant,” the statement said.

The city asked that people only share confirmed information, saying, “Unverified reports and speculation can deepen the pain experienced by grieving families, create unnecessary fear, and potentially put responding officers and members of the public at risk.”

Investigators began interviewing relatives and other potential witnesses while forensic teams examined the residence’s interior and exterior.

Officials have not identified anyone involved, disclosed their ages or determined whether those inside the home were relatives.

They were also investigating how, or whether, the suspected gunman knew the other victims.

Police Describe a Devastating Scene

Lorah said the circumstances surrounding the “most difficult and heartbreaking” scene were deeply disturbing and acknowledged the effect on the officers and detectives processing the home.

When officers arrived, they found two women deceased outside the home, Lorah said, adding that Ring video reviewed by investigators shows the women requesting assistance from neighbors, screaming and banging on doors.

The women were identified only as a sister-in-law and a family friend, according to Lorah.

The scale of the violence stunned even experienced officers, with Lorah telling reporters it was by far the worst crime scene he had seen in almost three decades of law enforcement.

“Our hearts are with the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragedy. There are no words that can adequately express the magnitude of the loss of life here,” he said in an earlier press conference.

Lorah added: “It’s a horrific scene. 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.”

Lorah said officers would receive counseling for what they had witnessed at the scene.

The city is also providing service to members of the community. “We recognize that this tragedy may have a profound impact on many members of our community,” the statement from Erie officials said.

“Anyone who would like to speak with a crisis counselor can contact Crisis Services at 814-456-2024. Support is available by phone or in person for those who need someone to talk to or help processing these events. Our hearts remain with the victims, their loved ones, and all those affected by this devastating loss of life.”

What Happens Next

The City of Erie said the situation had been contained and there was no ongoing danger to residents.

“Our thoughts are with the victims, their loved ones, and everyone impacted by tonight’s tragedy,” its Friday statement said.

Devlin described the shooting as a “terrible tragedy” and said officials would provide verified updates when they became available.

Officials are expected to release the identity of the victims at a later time once autopsies have been completed and next of kin has been notified.