Nine dead, including gunman and two children, in Pennsylvania shooting

A man shot and killed eight people, including two children, at a home in the US state of Pennsylvania before apparently taking his own life, local media reported.

Police in the city of Erie were called Friday around 5pm to reports of shots fired and discovered two women dead in the street, the Erie News Now outlet said.

The shooter barricaded himself inside the home as police surrounded the building and ordered him to exit.

More gunshots were heard during the standoff, Erie News Now reported.

When police eventually entered the building, they found several more victims around the home, including the two children. The shooter had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the outlet said, citing police.

Erie News Now said that police officers who responded to the scene were being offered counselling over the horrifying incident.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said: “I’ve spoken with Mayor [Daria] Devlin and offered my administration’s full support following the tragic mass shooting in Erie last night - killing nine of our fellow Pennsylvanians. My heart breaks for this family.”

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah told local media that the crime scene was by far the worst one he had ever seen in his law enforcement career.

He said: “I’m not sure that the city of Erie has ever seen the loss of life and the devastation that we just witnessed.”

- AFP