Case Summary
- Case Type
- Domestic Violence / Mass Shooting
- Incident Date
- October 9
- Incident Time
- 4:39 p.m.
- Location
- Perry Street, Erie, Pennsylvania
- Investigating Agency
- Erie Police Department
- Suspect
- Matthew Stone Sr.
- Suspect Age
- 45
- Victim Count
- 8
- Arrest Status
- Deceased
- Court Status
- Closed due to suspect death
- Case Status
- Under investigation
Authorities in Erie, Pennsylvania, disclosed details regarding a mass shooting on Friday, Oct. 9, in which a 45-year-old man killed eight people at a Perry Street residence before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Erie Police Department reported that the suspect, identified as Matthew Stone Sr., exercised severe control over his family members inside the home prior to the shooting. Police Chief Rick Lorah detailed the findings during a news conference, outlining the timeline and conditions inside the residence.
Incident Overview
According to a press conference held by Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah, the fatal shooting took place inside a home on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, Oct. 9. Investigators established that Matthew Stone Sr., 45, carried out the shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals inside and outside the residence. Police stated that family members described Stone as maintaining intense control over his household for years, restricting family finances and limiting when relatives could leave the property.
Detectives who entered the Perry Street home following the shooting reported extremely filthy living conditions. Police stated the residence lacked functioning plumbing, with the shower, toilet, and kitchen sink appearing inoperable, and numerous two-liter bottles filled with urine found throughout the house. Investigators also noted that packed bags and boxes were located in a bedroom, indicating that family members were preparing to leave before the violent encounter occurred.
Timeline of Events
The Erie Police Department established a chronological sequence of events based on phone logs, system detections, and tactical responses on Friday, Oct. 9:
- 4:39 p.m.: Angelina Stone called her aunt, Lora Roberts, via Facebook Messenger and spoke with her for approximately two minutes. Roberts indicated she was heading over to the Perry Street residence.
- Approximately 4:49 p.m.: Lora Roberts and Twila Tanner arrived outside the Perry Street home.
- Approximately 4:52 p.m.: The city of Erie ShotSpotter gun-detection system registered gunfire at the location.
- Between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.: Erie police activated SWAT and hostage negotiation teams to respond to the scene.
- Shortly after 7:00 p.m.: Tactical officers breached the partially barricaded front door of the residence to gain entry.
Suspect Information
Authorities identified the suspect as Matthew Stone Sr., aged 45, who resided at the Perry Street home in Erie, Pennsylvania. According to Police Chief Rick Lorah, relatives reported that Stone maintained strict control over his wife, children, and grandchildren for years, managing finances and restricting their movement outside the home. In 2019, Stone was charged in connection with a domestic violence incident involving his wife, during which a .40 caliber handgun was present. Those charges were withdrawn after his wife altered her statement during a preliminary hearing.
Family members had previously expressed concerns regarding Stone's mental health, potential physical health problems, and suspected substance abuse involving methamphetamine. While investigators found drug paraphernalia inside the residence, police noted there were no medical records confirming a formal mental health diagnosis, and the precise role of substance use in the incident remains unconfirmed.
Victim Information
The mass shooting resulted in the deaths of eight victims, including family members and visitors to the home:
- Michelle Stone, 44: Wife of the suspect.
- Angelina Stone, 24: Daughter of the suspect, who was pregnant at the time of her death.
- Jonathan Stone, 19: Son of the suspect.
- Matthew Stone, 21: Son of the suspect.
- Two children, ages 1 and 5: Young victims found inside the residence.
- Lora Roberts, 37: Sister of Michelle Stone and aunt to the children, who arrived at the home shortly before the shooting.
- Twila Tanner, 51: An individual who arrived at the home alongside Lora Roberts.
Police Response
Erie police officers and emergency personnel responded to the area following automated ShotSpotter alerts and calls regarding gunfire near Perry Street. SWAT officers and hostage negotiators assembled between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to handle the barricade situation. At approximately 7:00 p.m., tactical teams breached the front door, which had been partially blocked, and conducted a room-by-room search of the structure.
Investigation
The investigation is being conducted primarily by the Erie Police Department. Detectives processed the crime scene, collected ballistic evidence, interviewed surviving family members, and analyzed digital communications, including Facebook Messenger calls. Police Chief Rick Lorah stated that while authorities have reconstructed the sequence of events leading up to the gunfire, the exact motive and specific triggers immediately preceding the shooting cannot be determined with certainty.
Evidence Collected
Law enforcement officers recovered several items of physical and digital evidence from the scene:
- A .40 caliber handgun recovered inside the residence, identified as the firearm used in the shooting and previously involved in a 2019 domestic violence incident.
- Packed bags and boxes found in a bedroom, supporting reports that victims planned to move out of the residence.
- Drug paraphernalia located inside the home during the search.
- Electronic records and call logs from Facebook Messenger detailing a two-minute call at 4:39 p.m.
- Acoustic gunshot detection data recorded by the city of Erie ShotSpotter system at approximately 4:52 p.m.
Arrest Details
No arrest was made in connection with the mass shooting because the suspect died at the scene. Upon entering the second floor of the Perry Street residence shortly after 7:00 p.m., police officers located Matthew Stone Sr. deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Charges Filed
Because the suspect died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, no formal criminal charges were filed in court against Matthew Stone Sr. following the Oct. 9 incident. In standard law enforcement procedure, when a sole suspect dies prior to prosecution, criminal charges are not formally docketed or tried in court. Under Pennsylvania law, criminal homicide offenses, including first-degree murder, carry potential sentences of life imprisonment without parole or capital punishment upon conviction.
Under Pennsylvania statute, first-degree murder involves an intentional killing committed by means of poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, and premeditated act. Domestic violence offenses in Pennsylvania encompass physical abuse, threats, and harassment between family or household members. Had the suspect survived, potential charges would have included multiple counts of first-degree murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, and illegal firearms offenses. However, the death of the suspect legally terminates criminal proceedings against the individual.
Court Information
Because the suspect is deceased, no court appearance, arraignment, or preliminary hearing will take place for Matthew Stone Sr. In standard legal practice within Erie County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, criminal proceedings require a living defendant to fulfill constitutional rights, including the right to counsel and the right to confront accusers. As a result, no active docket number or criminal prosecution exists in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas for this matter, and the case file remains an open police investigation rather than a pending judicial case.
Statements from Authorities
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah addressed the community during a press conference regarding the findings of the investigation:
"There are still questions that we cannot answer, particularly about why this happened, but what we have been able to establish is a much clearer picture of the events on Friday, Oct. 9," Lorah said. "What we cannot say with certainty is what happened inside the home between those communications and the shooting or exactly what caused Matthew Stone Sr. to take these actions. Those are important limits to what this investigation can tell us."
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin also spoke at the press conference, focusing on community support and prevention:
"Were there opportunities to recognize that this family was struggling?" Devlin asked. "Were there places where our systems could have responded differently? And how do we make sure other families in our community who are suffering or struggling don't fall through the cracks? We cannot change what happened on Friday. But we can honor those we've lost through the care we show those who are grieving, the questions we are willing to ask, and the changes we make moving forward."
Public Safety Information
Authorities encourage individuals experiencing domestic abuse, coercive control, or family isolation to reach out to professional support networks. Victims of domestic violence can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or text "START" to 88788 for free, confidential support available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Residents in immediate danger should call 911 immediately.
What Happens Next
The Erie Police Department will continue finalizing its investigative report, reviewing forensic evidence, and completing official autopsy reports in coordination with the county coroner's office. City leaders reported plans to work alongside healthcare providers and community organizations to enhance domestic violence intervention services and assist neighbors in the Perry Street area with community healing resources.
