A Pennsylvania grandfather fatally shot seven family members and one family friend before taking his own life in a horrific murder-suicide, authorities said.
Police responded to reports of a shooting at an Erie, Pennsylvania, home on October 9, 2026, around 5 p.m. Officers arrived to find two women fatally shot in the road outside the house. Seven more victims, including the suspect, were found deceased inside the residence. “It was horrific. It was the worst scene I have ever experienced,” Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said at a press conference following the tragedy. “We said that there were a devastating amount of people inside there. There’s more than five. We were not sure at that point we could say 10 because one of those individuals is pregnant.”
Matthew Stone Sr. Killed 7 Relatives and a Family Friend
Authorities identified the shooter as Matthew Stone Sr. He killed his pregnant daughter, Angelina Stone, her children Isiah and Amari’anna, his sons Matthew Stone Jr., and Jonathan Stone; and his wife, Michelle Stone, at the home. He then shot relative Lora Roberts and family friend Twila Tanner before dying by suicide.
“I think that mental health is at play here,” Lorah said. “I think it’s too soon to really go into a motive at this time.”
Angelina Stone Was Days Away From Giving Birth
Angelina Stone was just days away from giving birth to her third child, a son she planned to name Kyrie, when she was killed.
On September 25, 2026, Angelina took to Facebook to share ultrasound images of her future son.
“@36 wks 2d Kyrie Ramirez S. Maaaamass Chunky Boy Omg His Face Is Sooo Chunky,” she captioned the photos. “A Blessing In My Eyes Momma Cant Wait To Hold Yooouu.”
Her expected due date was October 12, 2026 — just three days after she was killed.
Julius Windham Remembers Daughter Amari’anna
Julius Windham, who shared daughter Amari’anna with Angelina, spoke out after losing his child, her mother and her brother in the attack. He said the grandfather never seemed to be in distress and was “always smiling.”
“I think that was a front for him,” Windham said of Matthew Sr., according to the New York Post. “Him every day, him smiling and being just—you would think [that] nothing like that would happen.”
Mourners visited the crime scene on Sunday, October 11, placing candles, flowers and stuffed animals outside the home. Windham wore a T-shirt featuring pictures of Angelina and her children, with text that read, “Forever In My Heart.”
“Words can’t even explain what I’m going through right now,” Windham said. “But I gotta be strong for my community, you know what I’m saying? My family, my daughters, my sons, everybody.”
Lora Roberts and Tanner Rushed to the Scene to Help
Roberts and Tanner were the final two victims killed. Lorah said authorities learned of the killings when neighbors heard muffled gunshot sounds coming from inside the house. Roberts and Tanner, who lived at different addresses, rushed to the home to see what was happening and began pounding on the door. Matthew Sr. then emerged and shot both women as they ran toward him.
Roberts has been confirmed to be a relative of the shooter, while Tanner was a family friend. Roberts was a mother of five children and was engaged to her fiancé of 14 years.
“Her sudden loss has left her loved ones facing heartbreak as well as immediate financial needs during an unimaginable time,” read a GoFundMe page set up to help her family.
A separate GoFundMe for Tanner said she was “bravely trying to help a friend protect her family from a violent and dangerous individual.” The fundraiser claimed Tanner was fatally shot while trying to save Roberts’ niece from the attack. Investigators believe Roberts and Tanner were the last two people killed before the grandfather died by suicide.
GoFundMe Set Up for Angelina Stone and Her Children
Following the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was established in honor of Angelina. Creator Aaliyah Williams said she was raising money to help the family after the “unthinkable tragedy.”
“Angelina’s father killed Angelina and her children in a murder-suicide, and now our family is facing the painful task of laying them to rest,” Williams wrote. “We have no finances ready to cover this loss, and we have only two weeks from today to get everything done. The funds from this fundraiser will go toward funeral expenses and the fees related to their final arrangements so they can be sent off correctly.”
Williams said the situation was “more than our family can carry alone right now, and we truly need the community to rally around us.”
“Any donation, no matter the amount, will help ease the financial burden and help us give Angelina, Isiah, Amari’anna, and Kyrie the farewell they deserve,” she wrote. “If you are not able to give, please consider sharing this fundraiser and keeping our family in your prayers. These finds are going [straight] to Amari’anna’s father to support the funeral.”
Investigation Into the Erie, Pennsylvania, Murder-Suicide
Police have not yet publicly identified a motive other than suggesting he was struggling with mental health issues. Video and audio evidence obtained by investigators revealed muffled gunshot sounds heard coming from inside the home before Roberts and Tanner arrived.
Officials are in the process of speaking with relatives and reviewing Roberts and Tanner’s cellphones to establish what happened. Authorities are also in the process of notifying next of kin for the remaining victims.
The Erie Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding updates in the case. The investigation into the murder-suicide remains ongoing.
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This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
