Full Breakdown
Grandfather’s Family Mass Shooting Shocks Erie, Pennsylvania
By Drooid · · How we work
Event Details and Victims
On a Friday evening in Erie, Pennsylvania, a 45-year-old man identified by local police as Matthew Stone Sr. opened fire inside his home on the east side of the lakeside city. The attack claimed the lives of multiple family members across three generations, two family friends, and two women who attempted to intervene. Victims named by authorities include Stone’s wife Michelle Stone; his adult children Matthew Stone Jr. (21), Jonathan Stone and Angelina Stone, who was pregnant with her third child; Angelina’s five-year-old son Isiah and one-year-old daughter Amari’anna; and the two women, Lora Roberts and family friend Twila Tanner. Police later found Stone’s body in an upstairs area of the house after he turned the gun on himself.
Official Response
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the scene as “the worst” he had ever encountered during an emotional press briefing. The department released doorbell-camera footage showing neighbors fleeing the yard after hearing gunshots and a scream. Investigators said they are interviewing relatives to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy and have noted that mental-health issues may have played a role, though no motive has been confirmed.
Conflicting Reports on Victim Count
Initial reporting by the outlet indicated nine fatalities, counting the unborn child Kyrie as part of the death toll. A later summary from the same source listed eight people killed before the shooter’s suicide. The discrepancy centers on whether the unborn child is included in the official fatality count.
Ongoing Investigation
Police continue to gather evidence and statements from family members and neighbors. The investigation remains open, with authorities emphasizing the need to understand any underlying factors, including possible mental-health concerns, before releasing further details.