Gunman kills pregnant woman, 2 children and 5 others in ‘devastating’ Pennsylvania rampage

0The Erie police chief described the scene as one of the most difficult and heartbreaking his officers and investigators had encounteredAn Erie, Pennsylvania, gunman allegedly killed eight people, including a pregnant woman and two children, then himself, in a “devastating” incident Friday.

Police responded to reports of a man firing a handgun outside a residence before entering the home near East Seventh and Perry streets at about 5 p.m., according to Erie News Now. Erie is located about 117 miles north of Pittsburgh.

Officers arrived at 722 Perry Street to find two female victims dead in the street and additional victims inside the house. All nine deaths occurred before police arrived, authorities said.

The suspected gunman was also found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.

The victims, nor a potential motive, have been publicly identified.

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah told reporters Friday night that the “devastating” incident was “deeply disturbing.”

“This is one of the most difficult and heartbreaking scenes our officers and investigators have ever encountered,' Lorah said, per WABC–TV.

"I have not seen anything like this in my 28-plus years," he added, according to The Associated Press. "I'm not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed."

There is no ongoing threat to the public, and the investigation remains ongoing.

This is a developing news story and will be updated with more information as it becomes available

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