Pennsylvania shooter who killed 8 people was head of family, father of slain toddler says – National

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A man whose toddler was among eight people killed in a mass shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, said Sunday that the gunman was a grandfather who never seemed stressed or out of sorts.

“I think it was a cover for him,” Julius Windham said as he stood at a memorial for Friday’s shooting victims, including his 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna, her pregnant mother, and the woman’s 5-year-old son and unborn baby.

“He’s every day, he smiles and is fair – you’d think something like that wouldn’t happen,” Windham said.

The 45-year-old gunman committed suicide. Authorities have not released his name, but Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said he is related to seven of the victims. The eighth was a friend of the pregnant woman, he said. Police have not yet released their names.

Those killed included 2 women outside the house

Mourners on Sunday placed candles, flowers and stuffed animals outside the house where the man opened fire shortly before 5pm on Friday. Windham wore a T-shirt with pictures of murdered women and children and the words, “Forever In My Heart.”

Get daily National news

Get Canada’s daily news stories delivered to your inbox so you never miss the day’s top stories.

“Words can’t even explain what I’m going through right now,” Windham said. “But I have to be strong for my community, you know what I’m saying? My family, my daughters, my sons, everyone.”

Video and audio evidence recovered by investigators included muffled gunshots coming from inside the home just before two “distressed” women arrived and began pounding on the door, Lorah said. The gunman then came out and shot them as they ran towards him, before going back inside.

Responding officers found two women dead outside. After deploying drones and robots, they went inside and found the bodies of a 5-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl on the first floor; two more women and two young men on the stairs; and shooters on the second floor.

“Out of respect for the victims and families, I will not discuss the details of what our officers encountered inside the home,” the chief said at a news conference.

“But I want our community to understand the gravity of what happened and the profound impact this tragedy has had on those involved and our community as a whole,” he said.

Police declined to discuss a motive as the investigation continues

Erie is located about 120 miles (190 kilometers) north of Pittsburgh.

Lorah declined to discuss a motive but suggested mental health could have been a factor. He said investigators would talk to relatives and check the cellphones of the women who were killed outside their homes.

“They knew there was something going on in the house,” Lorah said. “We have to find out what it is.”

Nicole and Debra Eller, whose friends were among the victims, said they had known the family for more than 30 years.

Nicole Eller said the shooter “was a good person, and then he started regressing in every way.”

“They are a lovely family. Who would have thought this would happen?” Debra Eller said. “Oh my gosh, this is so sad. This should never have happened to him, his children, or anyone else. His grandchildren, his children, how could you do that?”

The shooting in Erie is reminiscent of the 1982 massacre in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where a man killed 13 people, including five of his own children.

At a press conference Saturday, Erie Mayor Daria Devlin delivered part of her speech directly to the victims’ families.

“I’m very sorry,” Devlin said. What happened to you is horrific, and there is nothing we can say today that will make it any easier. … Our entire community is with you, we mourn with you. And we are here to support you.”

&copy 2026 Canadian Press