Pennsylvania shooter who killed eight was a grandfather, says slain child’s dad
Father of toddler killed in Erie mass shooting says reported gunman never seemed distressed or out of the ordinary
TL;DR
- A man killed eight people, including his toddler granddaughter and her pregnant mother, in Erie, Pennsylvania, before dying by suicide.
- People who knew the shooter stated he showed no prior signs of violence and appeared to be smiling and normal.
- The victims included the shooter's one-year-old granddaughter, her pregnant mother, her five-year-old brother, and an unborn baby, along with two other women and two young men.
- The shooter was reportedly related to seven of the victims; the eighth was a friend of the pregnant woman.
- Investigators recovered audio and video evidence of gunshots from inside the home before two women arrived and were subsequently shot by the gunman.
- Erie's police chief declined to discuss motive but indicated mental health could be a factor and that investigators are examining cellphones.
- Community members and local officials, including the mayor and governor, have expressed deep sorrow and offered support to the victims' families.