Two women killed in the Pennsylvania murder-suicide that claimed nine lives—including those of two children and a pregnant woman—have been identified as friends who made a desperate attempt to save a family member.
Lora Roberts, 37, and Twila Tanner, 51, rushed to the Erie home on Friday night after a deadly shooting began, hoping to protect Roberts’ niece. Both were fatally shot by the 45-year-old grandfather accused of carrying out the attack, according to online fundraisers.
Roberts was a mother of five and had been engaged to her fiancé for 14 years, according to relatives who created a fundraising campaign.
“Her sudden loss has left her loved ones facing heartbreak as well as immediate financial needs during an unimaginable time,” the GoFundMe page said.
Friends and family said Tanner accompanied Roberts to the home, where the two women tried to stop the violence and prevent further bloodshed, according to a separate GoFundMe campaign.
Tanner was “bravely trying to help a friend protect her family from a violent and dangerous individual,” her loved ones wrote.
Tanner, who leaves behind children and grandchildren, was also shot and killed as she tried to help rescue Roberts’ niece from the attack, the fundraiser said.
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Investigators believe the two friends were the final victims killed before the shooter returned inside the house and took his own life.
Video and audio evidence collected by investigators reportedly shows the “distressed” women pounding on the front door of the Perry Road home after hearing gunshots from inside.
Police said the gunman then came outside and shot both women before going back into the home and killing himself.
The families of Roberts and Tanner are seeking donations to help pay for funeral costs and support relatives devastated by the killings.
Among the other victims was Angelina Stone, the shooter’s pregnant daughter, who was only days away from giving birth to her third child, whom she planned to name Kyrie.
Stone’s other two children, 5-year-old Isiah and nearly 2-year-old Amari’anna, were also killed.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the remaining victims as they work to notify their next of kin. Police said, however, that all nine victims were related except for one family friend, believed to be Tanner.
Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the violence. Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said he believes mental health issues may have played a role.
