PENNSYLVANIA, United States – Julius Windham says the man suspected of killing eight people in Erie, Pennsylvania, appeared calm and showed no obvious signs of distress in everyday life. Windham’s 1-year-old daughter, Amarianna, was among those killed in the October 9 shooting.
Windham shared his memories on October 11 while visiting a memorial outside the family home. The suspected gunman, a 45-year-old grandfather, killed seven relatives and a family friend before dying from what police believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“I think that was a front for him,” Windham said of the gunman’s outward behavior, according to Associated Press reporting.
Windham said the man often smiled and behaved in ways that gave little indication of what would happen. However, his account describes what he observed. It does not establish the gunman’s state of mind or explain why the shooting occurred.
Police have not established a motive and continue to investigate the killings.
A Father’s Loss
Amarianna was among the eight people killed by the suspected gunman. The shooting also claimed the lives of her mother, Angelina Stone, and Stone’s 5-year-old son, Isiah.
Stone was pregnant when she died. Her unborn child also died in the shooting, adding to the family’s losses.
Windham visited the memorial wearing a T-shirt featuring photographs of Stone and the children. The shirt carried the words “Forever In My Heart.”
He spoke about the difficulty of facing the loss while trying to support his surviving family and community.
“Words can’t even explain what I’m going through right now,” Windham said, according to the Associated Press. He added that he needed to remain strong for his family and community.
His remarks offered a glimpse of the grief left behind by the shooting. They also showed how survivors are trying to support one another while confronting a loss that has affected several generations of the same family.
Seven Victims Were Related to the Gunman
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said the suspected gunman was related to seven of the eight victims. The eighth victim was a friend of Stone, the chief said.
Authorities had not publicly released the suspected gunman’s name or the names of all the victims in the reporting reviewed for this article.
The family relationships help explain the scale of the loss. The shooting killed children, adults and a pregnant woman within a single family circle, along with a family friend.
Windham’s description of the gunman as a grandfather who appeared to behave normally also highlights a difficult question for relatives: how could a person they knew be connected to such violence?
Still, an outward appearance cannot establish a person’s intentions. Investigators have not announced evidence that resolves why the gunman opened fire.
Police Reconstruct the Final Moments
Investigators are reviewing video and audio evidence to reconstruct what happened inside and outside the home.
Lorah said recordings captured muffled gunshots from inside the residence before two distressed women arrived and knocked on the door. The gunman then came outside and shot the women before returning inside, according to the chief’s account.
Responding officers found the two women dead outside. After deploying a drone and robot, police entered the home and found the remaining victims and the suspected gunman.
Authorities said all nine deaths, including the suspected gunman, occurred before officers arrived. Police also said no further shots were fired after their arrival.
The investigation remains open. Lorah said investigators planned to speak with relatives and examine the cellphones of the two women killed outside the home.
Those steps could help establish what the women knew before they arrived and what led them to seek help. However, police have not publicly established a motive.
Community Leaves Candles and Flowers
As relatives grieved, residents gathered outside the home to remember those who died. Mourners left candles, flowers and stuffed animals at a growing memorial.
The items offered a visible expression of grief for the children and adults killed in the shooting. They also reflected the wider community’s response to a tragedy that has shaken the city.
Erie Mayor Daria Devlin expressed condolences to the victims’ families during a news conference on October 10. She acknowledged that words could not ease their pain and said the community stood with them.
The mayor’s message echoed the support Windham described as he spoke about his family and the people around him.
For surviving relatives, the immediate challenge is to mourn several loved ones while waiting for investigators to answer questions about the killings.
The Motive Remains Unknown
Police have not identified a motive for the shooting. Lorah has raised the possibility that mental health may be relevant to the investigation, but authorities have not established a diagnosis or confirmed that it explains the violence.
Windham’s account of the gunman’s public demeanor does not settle that question. A person’s outward behavior alone cannot establish what they were thinking or whether others could have anticipated their actions.
Investigators must rely on evidence, interviews and other findings to determine what happened and why. For now, the circumstances that led to the killings remain unclear.
The shooting left eight victims dead and a family facing the loss of children, a pregnant mother, other relatives and a friend. As police continue their work, Windham’s testimony brings the focus back to the people whose lives were taken and the survivors who must live with the consequences.
Reporting Credit: Erie Police Department; City of Erie; Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
