Pennsylvania Mass Shooting: Grandfather Identified After Eight People Are Killed in Family Tragedy

A devastating shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, has left a family shattered after eight people were killed, including two young children, a pregnant woman and several other relatives. Authorities have now identified the gunman as 45-year-old Matthew Stone Sr.

The shooting happened on Friday, October 9, 2026, at a home in Erie. According to the Erie County coroner and local police, Stone died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the killings.

Seven of the victims were members of his family. They included his wife, Michelle Stone, 44; his daughter, Angelina Stone, 24; and his sons, Jonathan Stone, 19, and Matthew Stone Jr., 21. Angelina was pregnant and expected to give birth on October 12.

Two of Angelina’s young children, a 5-year-old boy and a 1-year-old girl, were also killed. Their names have not been officially released by the coroner, although the girl’s father identified her as Amarianna while speaking at a memorial.

Two additional victims, Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51, were found outside the home. Roberts was a family friend who had reportedly been helping Angelina during her pregnancy. Tanner was the only victim who was not related to the shooter.

Investigators are examining what happened in the moments before the shooting. Police Chief Rick Lorah said video and audio evidence appeared to capture gunfire inside the residence before Roberts and Tanner arrived at the home in distress and began pounding on the door. The gunman then came outside and shot the two women before returning inside.

Authorities have not established a definitive motive. Police said investigators plan to speak with relatives and examine evidence, including the victims’ cellphones, in an effort to understand what led to the attack.

At a memorial outside the home, Julius Windham spoke about losing his young daughter and other loved ones. He said he had never imagined that the family patriarch could be responsible for such a tragedy.

Friends also remembered Roberts as a compassionate person who supported people in need. Her death, alongside the loss of so many members of one family, has deepened the grief felt throughout the community.

As the investigation continues, relatives are left mourning multiple generations of loved ones and searching for answers to a tragedy that has devastated their family.

Source: Associated Press (AP News)

Additional source: PEOPLE