Pennsylvania grandfather killed toddler granddaughter and seven others in mass shooting, authorities say
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The victims included a 1-year-old girl, her pregnant mother and a 5-year-old boy, as investigators continue to examine the shooting.
A Pennsylvania father is grieving the loss of his 1-year-old daughter after a mass shooting in Erie left eight people dead, including several members of the same family.
Julius Windham said his daughter, Amarianna, was among those killed in the Oct. 9 shooting, which authorities say was carried out by her grandfather, Matthew Stone Sr., 45. Stone killed eight people before dying by suicide, according to law enforcement officials.
In an interview reported by NBC News, Windham described the gunman as someone who did not appear to be struggling or behaving unusually.
“I think that was a front for him,” Windham said, reflecting on Stone’s outward demeanor.
The shooting took place at a home on Perry Street in Erie, a city in northwestern Pennsylvania. Authorities said the victims included Stone’s wife, Michelle Stone, 44; his pregnant daughter, Angelina Stone, 24; and two young children — a 1-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. Angelina was reportedly due to give birth on Oct. 12.
Two other women, Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51, were also killed. Officials said Roberts and Tanner were not members of the family, while the other victims were related to the gunman.
Windham said Amarianna was his daughter with Angelina, who was also the mother of the 5-year-old boy killed in the attack.
Authorities said officers responding to reports of gunfire found two women dead outside the residence. After deploying a drone and robot, police entered the home and discovered additional victims, along with Stone, who had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah has declined to identify a motive for the shooting, though he said mental health could be a factor. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
The shooting has devastated the local community, with residents gathering outside the home to leave flowers and other tributes for the victims.
As the investigation continues, families and community members are left mourning the lives lost in a shooting that claimed multiple generations of one family, including two young children.