ERIE, Pa. — Authorities on Monday identified the eight victims of a mass shooting at an Erie home, revealing that the casualties included the gunman’s wife, his pregnant daughter, two adult sons, and two young grandchildren.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook released the names following the Friday evening massacre on Perry Street in Erie, located approximately 120 miles north of Pittsburgh. The shooter, identified by Cook as 45-year-old Matthew Stone Sr., died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the residence.
Victims identified by authorities
The victims discovered inside the residence included the shooter’s wife, Michelle Stone, 44; his daughter, Angelina K. Stone, 24; and two sons, Matthew Stone Jr., 21, and Jonathan Stone, 19, Cook told NBC News. Cook stated that Angelina Stone was pregnant and was scheduled to give birth on Monday.
Two young children who lived in the home were also killed inside: a 5-year-old boy and a girl approaching her second birthday. Under Pennsylvania state law, the coroner did not officially release the minors’ identities, but family members identified the toddler as Amarianna, Angelina Stone’s daughter.
Two additional women were fatally shot outside the residence: Lora Lee Roberts, 37, and Twila A. Tanner, 51. Roberts was Michelle Stone’s sister, while Tanner was a neighbor and close friend, according to Christine Tombaugh, executive director of the Community of Caring shelter where Roberts volunteered.
Tombaugh told NBC News that Roberts had rushed to the residence on Friday alongside Tanner after Angelina Stone contacted her seeking transportation to the hospital. Friends remembered Roberts as a dedicated mother of five, an engaged bride-to-be, and an active advocate for people experiencing homelessness.
How the shooting unfolded
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said emergency personnel were alerted shortly before 5 p.m. Friday through ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system. Audio and video recordings obtained by investigators captured muffled gunfire within the residence before Roberts and Tanner arrived, Lorah told reporters.
When the two women banged on the entrance, the gunman emerged, shot them as they approached him, and retreated back inside, police reported. Responding officers found the two women deceased outdoors. After deploying a tactical robot and a surveillance drone, law enforcement entered the house.
Inside, officers discovered the bodies of the two young children on the main level, two women and two young men positioned in a stairwell, and the shooter on the second floor, Lorah stated. Officers did not discharge weapons, and additional popping noises heard at the scene came from tactical flash-bang devices, according to the police chief.
Relatives gathered over the weekend at a makeshift memorial outside the Perry Street property, placing flowers, candles, and stuffed animals. Julius Windham, the father of the toddler and former partner of Angelina Stone, expressed disbelief, telling reporters that the grandfather had shown no outward distress in the days preceding the attack.
Ongoing investigation and unanswered questions
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin praised first responders for their swift response under horrific circumstances and offered the community’s condolences directly to the grieving relatives. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pledged the state’s complete resources to assist local leaders in the aftermath.
Erie County District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz cautioned community members against circulating rumors or unverified claims while the inquiry proceeds. Lorah noted that investigators are examining the cellular phones of the two women slain outside and interviewing relatives to establish what precipitated the violence. Police indicated that the gunman’s mental health may have played a role, though a definitive motive has not been determined.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988.
