The revelation by victims' families and friends that the grandfather was the gunman behind a mass shooting that left eight people dead in Pennsylvania has shocked American society.

According to the Associated Press, the mass shooting took place shortly before 5 p.m. on October 9 in Erie, a city located about 200 kilometers north of Pittsburgh, resulting in eight deaths.

The 45-year-old male gunman took his own life, bringing the total death toll to nine.

The victims included a pregnant woman, her 5-year-old son, and her 1-year-old daughter, Amariana.

Julius Windham, the father of Amariana, spoke at a memorial for the shooting victims on October 11, saying, "Words cannot even explain what I'm going through right now."

Windham said the gunman was normally a grandfather who showed no signs of anything unusual and always had a smiling face, adding, "You would have never thought that would take place."

Erie Police Chief Rick Laura explained that seven of the eight victims were relatives of the gunman, and the remaining victim was a friend of the pregnant female victim, though identities such as names were not disclosed.

Based on video and audio evidence secured by police, Chief Laura stated that muffled gunshots were heard inside the home just before two "extremely distraught" women arrived at the residence and knocked on the door.

According to police, the gunman then came outside, fired at individuals running toward him, and went back inside the house.

Responding police officers discovered the bodies of two women outside the residence.

Police then deployed a drone and a robot before entering the house, where they found the bodies of the 5-year-old boy and 1-year-old girl on the first floor, the bodies of two women and a young man on the landing, and the gunman's body on the second floor.

Chief Laura stated, "Out of respect for the victims and their families, we will not be detailing what our officers encountered inside that residence," while expressing hope that the community understands the severity of the incident and its profound impact on the entire community.

Regarding the two female victims found dead outside the house, Chief Laura said, "They knew something was going on at that house" and added, "We need to find out what that was."

Nicole Eller and Debra Eller, who stated that one of the victims was her best friend, told the Associated Press that they had known the family for over 30 years.

Nicole Eller said of the gunman, "He was a good guy, and then everything just started falling apart in every aspect."

Debra Eller said, "They were a loving family. Who would have thought this would happen? Oh, God, it is so upsetting. That woman or those children, none of them deserved this. How could you do that to your own grandchildren and your own children?"
 
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)