An Erie Tragedy: Seemingly Normal Grandfather, Eight Victims, and a Family Massacre that Defies Explanation
In what seems to be almost a regular occurrence within the United States, another active shooter event has taken place, this time in the small town of Erie, Pennsylvania. And Gun Owners of America spokesman Stephen Willeford has questions on whether things could’ve gone differently. Complicating matters are reports that the shooter was grandfather who seemed quite normal.
- Police responded to an active shooter at a residence in Erie, Pennsylvania. They found two women fatally wounded outside, and seven more inside the home – including the shooter.
- It appears that the Erie shooter killed all the victims and themselves before police arrived, so no confrontation took place.
- Though the police acted quickly, there is some belief that someone with an open-carry license could have responded to the incident
The shooting took place on the Perry Street block. Police responded and arrived moments later, finding two women fatally wounded outside of the house. SWAT later entered the home and found seven other victims, including the shooter.
Police responded after receiving an alert from their ShotSpotter system, and they arrived on the scene without any sort of confrontation, as the shooting had apparently already taken place. A neighbor later reported that they saw a person matching the suspect’s description shooting at the women.
LEARN MORE ABOUT STEPHEN WILLEFORD’S BAREFOOT DEFENDER WEBSITE HERE.
Though details about the shooter and the victims are scarce, police did believe that most of the people were related to one another – including the shooter. And sadly, one of them was eight months pregnant.
Although police reacted as quickly as they could to the incident, one would have to wonder if someone with an open-carry license could’ve possibly stepped in to assist. After all, Pennsylvania is an open-carry state, one of 26 within the U.S.
Willeford joins us now to discuss this matter further. Welcome to the show!
Relevant Article(s):
Erie, Pennsylvania, gunman kills 8 relatives before dying of self-inflicted wound | Fox News
Q&A:
- Another mass shooting has left an entire community grieving. What are your thoughts on the tragedy in Erie, Pennsylvania?
- Authorities have not yet established a motive. What factors can contribute to extreme acts of violence, particularly when many of the victims are members of the same family?
- Police arrived within minutes of receiving a gunshot-detection alert, but authorities say all the deaths occurred before their arrival. What does this incident tell us about the challenges of responding to shootings in progress?
- Pennsylvania generally allows open carry, subject to legal restrictions. What role, if any, do you believe armed civilians can play in responding to violent incidents, and what risks should people consider before intervening?
- What evidence or experience informs your view of the relationship between open-carry laws, armed civilian intervention, and public safety? What questions should policymakers be asking when evaluating these laws?
- For the families and loved ones of those killed in Erie, this is an unimaginable tragedy. What message would you share with those who are grieving?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, which discusses the 2017 shooting in Sutherland Springs and your role in helping stop the attacker. Tell us more about how the book came together and why you believe it is an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you and Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
ORDER STEPHEN WILLEFORD’S BOOK, A TOWN CALLED SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, HERE.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen Willeford represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with a gun” for helping stop the gunman responsible for the 2017 shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas. He is available to discuss gun rights issues and the work of Gun Owners of America. He is also the author of A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. Learn more about him at thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.
