Police Confirm Nine Dead After Pennsylvania Shooting

Nine people were killed Friday night after a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, authorities said, as police responded near 7th and Perry streets where a suspected shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The motive remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing.

According to police, witnesses saw the suspect firing a weapon before entering a house. Officers attempted to get the person to surrender, and additional gunshots were later heard from inside the home.

Police Chief Rick Lorah said authorities confirmed the suspected shooter was deceased and that there was no continuing threat to the public based on available information.

"At this time we can confirm that the suspect is deceased. Based on the information currently available to us, there is no ongoing threat to the public," said Rick Lorah, Erie Police Chief.

The identities of the victims have not been released, and authorities have not announced a possible motive. The department said investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

Lorah described the scene as one of the most difficult incidents faced by officers and investigators while addressing the community's response to the deaths.

"I want to be candid with our community. This is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes our officers and investigators have ever encountered. The loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing," said Rick Lorah, Erie Police Chief.