Nine killed in shooting in US Pennsylvania

Nine people, including two children, died in a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, with the suspected gunman found dead from an apparent self-inflicted wound. Separately, an 18-year-old Minnesota man faces firearm charges over an alleged Islamic State-inspired Mall of America attack plot

New York: Nine people, including two children, were dead following a shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, US media reported. Police were called to Perry Street on Friday evening after eyewitnesses reported seeing a man firing a gun before he entered a home, according to media reports on Saturday (local time). Two women were found dead in the street, and more victims were later found dead inside the home, reports Xinhua, quoting Erie News Now.

Police said that the suspect was also found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The City of Erie authorities said Saturday that all nine deaths occurred before police arrived at the scene. No additional gunshots were fired after police arrived. Police have not yet released the identities of those killed or discussed a possible motive.

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Further details are awaited. Earlier this month, an 18-year-old Minnesota man was charged with a firearm offence in connection with an alleged plot to attack the Mall of America, the largest shopping centre in the United States, according to court documents.

An FBI affidavit alleges that Sheikhdoon Abdullahi Mohamud planned a shooting at the mall in support of the Islamic State. The mall is located in Bloomington, Minnesota. Mohamud appeared in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minnesota Public Radio reported.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 19, according to Fox 9. On Tuesday, Mohamud allegedly paid 600 US dollars to an undercover FBI employee for an AK-47 rifle, four magazines and about 200 rounds of ammunition. Agents arrested him shortly after he left the employee’s vehicle carrying the items, according to the affidavit.

The rifle had been rendered inert for safety before the transaction, while the ammunition was live, according to the filing. The affidavit alleges that Mohamud knew or had reasonable cause to believe that the firearm and ammunition would be used to commit a felony and a federal crime of terrorism. The FBI began investigating Mohamud in December 2024, according to the affidavit.

He exchanged hundreds of messages with a confidential source through social media and encrypted messaging applications, the affidavit said. In July, Mohamud allegedly discussed carrying out a shooting at the mall and said he might kill 30 to 60 people.

In September, he identified October 24 as the date of the planned attack and sent the source a link to a Hmong Arts Celebration at the mall, according to the affidavit. In a statement reported by Minnesota Public Radio, the mall said it maintained multiple layers of security and would continue working with law enforcement.