The two women were fatally shot outside a home on Perry Street during an attack that claimed the lives of eight people, including two young children and a pregnant woman. The gunman also died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total number of people who died to nine.
Authorities released the victims’ identities on Monday, October 12, as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding one of the deadliest incidents in Erie’s recent history.
The identification of Tanner and Roberts has drawn particular attention because reports indicate that the women approached the residence as the violence was unfolding.
Who Were Twila Tanner and Lora Roberts?
Twila Tanner was 51 years old, while Lora Roberts was 37.
Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook confirmed that neither woman lived at the Perry Street residence where most of the victims were found.
According to reporting about the investigation, Tanner and Roberts approached the home while the shooting was taking place. Video and audio evidence reviewed by investigators helped establish aspects of the sequence of events.
Both women were shot outside the house.
Their deaths have become a particularly painful part of the tragedy, with family members and community members remembering them as people whose lives were taken during an already devastating attack.
Accounts published after their identities became known described Roberts as a mother who cared deeply about her family and was involved in helping others.
Tanner was also remembered by people close to her as a mother and grandmother.
While additional personal details may emerge as their families share memories, the confirmed circumstances of their deaths have already placed their names at the center of public attention.
What Happened During the Erie Mass Shooting?
The shooting occurred on Friday afternoon, October 9, at a residence near East Seventh and Perry streets in Erie, a city in northwestern Pennsylvania.
Police responded after gunfire was detected in the neighborhood.
When officers arrived, they found two women outside the residence who had suffered fatal gunshot wounds.
Additional victims were discovered inside the home.
Authorities later identified the suspected gunman as Matthew Stone Sr., 45, who was found dead inside the residence from what investigators described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police Chief Rick Lorah said the scale of the violence made the incident exceptionally difficult for responding officers and investigators.
The attack involved members of the same family spanning multiple generations, as well as Tanner and Roberts.
Authorities have said the gunman died before officers entered the residence, and investigators have continued reviewing evidence to determine the full sequence of events.
Erie Shooting Victims Identified by the Coroner
On October 12, Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook released the names of the adult victims.
Those identified included:
- Michelle Stone, reported by the coroner as 45
- Angelina Stone, 24, who was pregnant
- Matthew Stone, 21
- Jonathan Stone, 19
- Twila Tanner, 51
- Lora Roberts, 37
Two young children, a five-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl, were also killed.
The coroner did not publicly identify the children because of restrictions under Pennsylvania law.
Family members subsequently shared some information about the children, including the identity of the youngest victim.
Angelina Stone was reportedly due to give birth on Monday, October 12, just three days after the shooting.
The loss of the pregnant mother and her children has added to the profound grief experienced by the families and the wider Erie community.
The county coroner also recorded the death of Angelina Stone’s unborn child among the homicide victims. This explains why some reports use different victim totals when discussing the tragedy.
What Investigators Have Said About Matthew Stone Sr.
Matthew Stone Sr., 45, was identified by authorities as the person responsible for the shooting.
According to the Erie County Coroner’s Office, his death was ruled a suicide.
Investigators have said that the majority of those killed were relatives of the gunman.
Authorities have not established a definitive motive for the killings.
While police have discussed the possibility that mental health concerns may have played a role, no final determination has been announced.
Investigators are examining available evidence, including recordings, witness accounts, and information about the events leading up to the shooting.
The absence of a confirmed motive remains one of the most important unanswered questions surrounding the incident.
Why the Deaths of Twila Tanner and Lora Roberts Have Drawn Attention
The circumstances surrounding Tanner and Roberts have made their stories especially significant within the broader investigation.
Unlike several of the victims, neither woman lived at the home.
Reports indicate they approached the residence during the violent episode and were subsequently killed outside.
Their actions have prompted public expressions of sympathy and recognition from people following the case.
However, investigators have not publicly established every detail of what either woman knew about the shooting before approaching the property.
It is therefore important to distinguish the reported sequence of events from assumptions about their intentions or the decisions they made.
For their loved ones, the tragedy is also a personal loss extending far beyond the public attention surrounding the shooting.
Erie Community Mourns the Victims
The mass shooting has left Erie residents struggling to understand how so many lives could be lost in a single incident.
Community members gathered to remember the victims and express support for their families.
The deaths have affected several households, including relatives of the Stone family and loved ones of Tanner and Roberts.
Local leaders have also expressed condolences as residents process the scale of the tragedy.
Beyond the investigation itself, families now