Multiple people were killed – including two children and a pregnant woman – when a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania home on Friday night.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at around 5 p.m. on the 700 block of Perry Street in Erie, Pa., Erie News Now reported.
Two women were found lying in the road outside the house, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds when officers arrived, according to the outlet.
The suspected killer, armed with a handgun, had barricaded himself inside the home and sparked a standoff between himself and a SWAT team.
Several shots were fired inside the home during the standoff, according to video from Erie News Now.
The killer, who has not been identified, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police later entered the home, where they discovered multiple victims killed throughout the house. One of the victims was pregnant at the time of the shooting, the outlet reported.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah did not share any details of the scene “out of respect of the victims.”
A motive or additional information has not been revealed.
The relationship between the gunman and victims is not known.
Police officials called the gruesome scene one of the worst the city has ever experienced.
“I wanna be candid with our community, this is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes that our officers and investigators have ever encountered, Lorah told reporters.
“The loss of life is devastating and the circumstances that were are working through are deeply disturbing.”
Lorah confirmed the shooter was dead but didn’t disclose how many people were killed in the massacre. Erie News Now reported nine people had died.
“Based on the information currently available to us, there is no ongoing threat to the public. 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,” Lorah said.
