The gunman who killed eight people inside and outside an Erie, Pennsylvania, home was the family's patriarch and related to seven victims, police said.
The big picture: Police said the 45-year-old gunman killed eight people Friday evening before taking his own life. Seven victims were relatives, and the eighth was a friend of a pregnant woman who was killed.
- The dead included 1-year-old Amarianna, her pregnant mother, the woman's 5-year-old son and unborn baby. Authorities had not publicly released the gunman's name or the other victims' names by Sunday.
Zoom in: Investigators recovered audio and video that captured muffled gunshots before two distressed women reached the house and pounded on the door. Police Chief Rick Lorah said the gunman came outside, shot the women as they ran toward him and returned indoors.
- Officers used a drone and robot before entering. They found the two women outside, two children on the first floor, four people in a stairwell and the gunman on the second floor.
What they're saying: "I think that was a front for him," said Julius Windham, Amarianna's father, describing a grandfather who had appeared cheerful and ordinary. Windham said he had to remain strong for his community and family.
Why it matters: The absence of an obvious public warning sign leaves a central question unanswered. Police are examining relatives' accounts and the victims' phones to determine what preceded the attack and whether anyone knew danger was building inside the home.
