Location: 700 block of Perry Street, east side of Erie, Pennsylvania
Date: Friday, October 9, 2026, shortly before 4:53 p.m.
Accused: No one charged. Police say the gunman, identified by the Erie County coroner as Matthew Stone Sr., 45, died at the scene
Charges: None. Because the suspected shooter is dead, no criminal case is expected
Status: Investigation ongoing; police have not announced a motive
Angelina Stone, a 24-year-old mother who was eight months pregnant, was among the people killed on Friday, October 9, 2026, when a gunman opened fire at a home in the 700 block of Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania. Her two young children, her mother, two young men identified as her brothers and two women who had come to the house were also killed. Police say the suspected shooter, a 45-year-old man, was found dead inside the home with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook identified the suspected gunman as Matthew Stone Sr., the father of the adult children in the home. Police have said all of the deaths happened before officers arrived, and that the case appears to be a domestic incident. They have not said why it happened.
Who Was Angelina Stone?
Angelina Stone was 24 years old and close to giving birth. The coroner's office listed her unborn child among the victims, and Coroner Cook confirmed the baby's death to Erie News Now on Saturday afternoon. According to family accounts reported by Daily Voice, she was known online as Dej Shanti, and the family had already chosen a name for her son: Kyrie.
Relatives told Daily Voice that her two children who died with her were her 5-year-old son, Isiah Hodges, and her 22-month-old daughter, Amari'anna. A relative who spoke to WPXI, Juicesiyah Alexander Ezekiel, described losing the little girl in a few words: "It was my baby, bro, and he just took her."
A fundraiser was organized for the funerals of Angelina and her children, according to Daily Voice, which reported that the family had no money set aside for services. A candlelight vigil was held in Erie on Saturday night.
Who Else Was Killed in the Erie Shooting?
The coroner identified the other victims as Michelle Stone, the suspected gunman's wife and Angelina's mother; Matthew Stone and Jonathan Stone, his adult sons, who police said were 19 and 21; Lora Roberts, 37; and Twila Tanner, 51. Published reports differ on how Roberts and Tanner were connected to the family. Cleveland 19 reported that the coroner listed both women as neighbors, while family accounts reported by Daily Voice describe Roberts as Michelle Stone's sister and Tanner as a family friend.
Police said Roberts and Tanner were found outside the house. According to WPXI, investigators reviewed video showing the two women arriving in distress and knocking on the door for help before the gunman came outside and shot them. Daily Voice reported that the women had gone to the house because they were worried about the relatives inside.
What Happened on Perry Street?
Erie police were sent to the 700 block of Perry Street, near East 7th Street, at 4:53 p.m. after the city's ShotSpotter system detected two gunshots. Officers arrived within minutes and found the two women outside the home. Police believe shots had already been fired inside before the suspect stepped out, and WPXI reported that audio captured muffled gunshots before he came outside.
Inside, police later found the 5-year-old boy and the 22-month-old girl on the first floor, and four adults, women aged 24 and 44 and men aged 19 and 21, in a stairwell leading to the second floor. The suspected gunman was found on the second floor, and police said a gun was recovered from him. Daily Voice reported that the handgun was registered to him.
Why Did Police Wait Before Entering the Home?
The pace of the police response quickly became a public question in Erie. According to Erie News Now, officers did not know at first whether the suspect was still alive inside or whether children were in danger. Police sought a search warrant, tried without success to contact anyone in the house, sent in drones, and had the SWAT team breach several doors and use a robot to check the home before officers went in.
Some residents believed they heard more gunfire during that time. Police Chief Rick Lorah said investigators determined that no shots were fired after officers reached the scene, and that the sounds people heard were flash-bang devices and chemical munitions used by the tactical team. Speaking about the possibility of shots during the standoff, Lorah told reporters, "Had any of those been heard, we would've made entry immediately." At 9:55 p.m., the City of Erie posted that "the shooter is deceased, and there is no ongoing threat or danger to the public at this time."
Lorah has acknowledged how hard the scene was for the officers who responded. "Our investigation is ongoing, and the details are difficult," he said. He also said that "some scenes stay with you long after you leave them. This is one of those tragic scenes."
Was This a Domestic Violence Case?
Police have not announced a motive. Chief Lorah has said the shooting appears to be a domestic incident, and Daily Voice reported that he said seven of the eight people shot were related to the gunman. Any further explanation of why it happened remains unconfirmed until investigators release their findings.
Investigators are trying to fill in what came before Friday afternoon. According to WPXI, police are reviewing the cell phones of the two women found outside, other video from the area, and the suspected shooter's history with law enforcement. No public report reviewed for this article describes earlier police calls to the home or any protective order, and no official has said whether anyone raised concerns beforehand. Those answers, if they come, will shape whether this case is remembered as a sudden act or as one with missed warnings.
If you or someone you know is afraid of a partner or family member, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 1-800-799-7233, or by texting START to 88788.
How Has Erie Responded?
Mayor Daria Devlin offered condolences to the families and said, "The trauma of an event like this doesn't end when the scene is cleared or the headlines fade." The city said it was working with UPMC Crisis Services, AHN Behavioral Health, local schools and community groups to provide trauma support. Governor Josh Shapiro said he had spoken with Devlin and offered his administration's full support. "My heart breaks for this family," he said.
What Happens Next?
Because the man police say carried out the shooting is dead, there will be no criminal trial, and the public will not hear the evidence tested in a courtroom. Answers will have to come from the police investigation and the coroner's office. The open questions include the exact sequence of events inside the home, the full history of the gun, any prior contact between police and people at the address, and how the two women outside came to be there when the gunman stepped out.
Officials have also given different totals as the case developed. Police counted eight people shot plus the suspected gunman, while the coroner counted Angelina Stone's unborn son as a ninth victim. MotiveX will update this case file as Erie police and the coroner release more information.
Timeline of the Angelina Stone Case
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, 4:53 p.m. | Erie police are sent to the 700 block of Perry Street after a ShotSpotter alert for two gunshots. |
| Oct. 9, minutes later | Officers find Lora Roberts and Twila Tanner dead outside the home. |
| Oct. 9, evening | Police seek a search warrant, use drones and a robot, and SWAT breaches the home. The suspected gunman is found dead on the second floor. |
| Oct. 9, 9:55 p.m. | The City of Erie says the shooter is dead and there is no ongoing threat to the public. |
| Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 | The coroner confirms the death of Angelina Stone's unborn child. A candlelight vigil is held that night. |
| Monday, Oct. 12, 2026 | Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook identifies the victims and the suspected gunman, Matthew Stone Sr., 45. |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people died in the Erie Perry Street shooting?
Police counted eight people shot and killed, plus the suspected gunman. The coroner also counted Angelina Stone's unborn son as a victim, which is why some reports give a total of ten deaths including the shooter.
Who was the Erie shooter?
The Erie County coroner identified the suspected gunman as Matthew Stone Sr., 45, the father of the adult children killed. Police say he died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound before officers entered the home.
Why did it happen?
Police have not announced a motive. Chief Rick Lorah has said it appears to be a domestic incident, and the investigation is continuing.
Did police fire any shots?
No. Police said no shots were fired after officers arrived, and that the bangs heard during the response came from flash-bang devices and chemical munitions.
Will anyone be charged?
No one has been charged. Because the man police identify as the shooter is dead, no criminal case is expected.
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