Crime & JusticeDeveloping
Shooting at Erie, Pennsylvania home leaves multiple dead, including children
By Mantle News
Coverage spectrum
Covered by 26 outlets across the spectrum.
48 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias
A shooting at a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday night, October 9, killed several people, including children, according to city officials and police. Reports differ on the toll: several outlets say nine people died, while Deutsche Welle and TheGrio say eight people were killed. The gunman was also found dead. The Guardian reports that authorities said there was no ongoing threat. TheGrio, citing law enforcement officials, says the suspected gunman was a 45-year-old man who was related to several of the victims. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the event as a mass shooting.
Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works
What happened
Key points
Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.
A shooting at a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday night killed multiple people, including two children.
Reported byLeft3Center1Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
- Left
- CBS News, The Guardian, TheGrio
- Center
- BBC News
- Right
- Daily Mail, New York Post
The reported death toll differs: some outlets say nine people died, while others say eight people were killed.
Reported byLeft2Center3Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Left
- The Guardian, TheGrio
- Center
- The Hill, Straight Arrow News, Deutsche Welle
- Right
- Daily Mail
The suspected gunman was also found dead, and reports describe the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide or a suicide.
Reported byLeft3Center1Right1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
- Left
- The New York Times, The Guardian, TheGrio
- Center
- Deutsche Welle
- Right
- New York Post
- Far Right
- Fox News
Law enforcement officials said the gunman was Matthew Stone Sr., 45, who was related to several of the victims.
One outletTheGrio· Left
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the event as a mass shooting.
One outletThe Hill· Center
What is contested
Where accounts differ
Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.
The total number of people killed in the Erie shooting.
The Daily Mail, The Hill, BBC, Straight Arrow News and the Guardian report nine dead. Deutsche Welle and TheGrio report eight people killed, with the gunman dead as well.
How each side tells it
Compare views
All sides report multiple deaths at an Erie, Pennsylvania home on Friday night, including children, and that the gunman also died. The right and center lead with the death count, while TheGrio on the left puts the family ties first.
the left
9 outlets
Left headlines range from the neutral multiple people dead of The New York Times to TheGrio's headline, which puts the family ties and the victims' ages first.
Pennsylvania grandfather killed toddler granddaughter and seven others in mass shooting, authorities say
TheGrioLeftAll left-leaning headlines the center
6 outlets
Center headlines state the death toll as a flat number in a neutral mass-shooting frame, with Deutsche Welle highlighting the shooter's suicide.
Nine dead in mass shooting at Pennsylvania home
BBC NewsCenterAll center headlines the right
11 outlets
Right headlines stress the number of dead and the children among them, with the New York Post and Daily Mail highlighting a suspected murder-suicide and the bodies.
Multiple people, including 2 children, dead in suspected murder-suicide at Pennsylvania home
New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines
The words they chose
Language to notice
Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.
Left1
years of descent
Center0
No loaded words in its own voice.
Right24
slaughteredhorrificbloodshed eruptedshootout
In the outlets’ own words
Loaded verb
slaughteredMore neutral: killed
The verb adds a graphic, judgemental tone where the plain word for killing is available.
The crazed killer in a mass murder-suicide in Pennsylvania was a grandfather who slaughtered nine of his own loved ones, including his young grandchildren and a daughter days…
Used byNew York Post (Right)Daily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
horrificMore neutral: fatal
The adjective adds an emotional judgement that the facts alone do not require.
Nine people, including two children, were killed in a horrific shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania, with two women found dead in the street.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
bloodshed eruptedMore neutral: The shooting began
The phrase dramatizes the start of the shooting instead of describing it plainly.
The bloodshed erupted in Erie on Friday evening, Erie News Now reported.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
shootoutMore neutral: shooting
A shootout implies an exchange of gunfire, while the city says all deaths occurred before officers arrived and no shots were fired after they reached the scene.
Nine people, including two children, were killed in a shootout on Friday night in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Used byTownhall (Far Right)
Show 21 more phrasesShow fewer
Sensational language
rampageMore neutral: shooting
The word dramatizes a shooting at one house and implies a wider spree than the reports describe.
A heavily-pregnant mom and her two children were among the victims of a horrific rampage that left nine people dead.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
shooting rampageMore neutral: shooting
“Rampage” adds drama beyond the reported facts of a shooting at one home.
…mom was days away from giving birth before she was among 8 killed in gunman’s shooting rampage
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded modifier
crazed killerMore neutral: gunman
The label pre-judges the gunman's state of mind before any motive or condition has been established.
The crazed killer in a mass murder-suicide in Pennsylvania was a grandfather who slaughtered nine of…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
shockingMore neutral: murder-suicide in Pennsylvania
The word adds drama beyond the reported facts of the shooting.
Grandpa ID’d as crazed killer who shot 9 of his kids, grandkids in shocking Pa.
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
horrifyingMore neutral: mass shooting
The adjective adds emotional intensity beyond the reported facts.
An unidentified 45-year-old grandfather killed nine of his family members in a horrifying mass shooting on Friday evening in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
horrorMore neutral: mass shooting
The word manufactures drama rather than describing the event.
A Pennsylvania grandfather killed nine of his loved ones in a horror mass shooting before taking his own life, according to relatives.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
massacreMore neutral: mass shooting
The word goes further than the plainer term used by most outlets for a shooting that killed several people.
Pregnant mom just 4 days from giving birth among 8 killed in Pennsylvania massacre: reports
Used byFox News (Far Right)
Loaded modifier
cowardly shooterMore neutral: shooter
Calling the gunman cowardly is a value judgement added in the outlet’s own voice.
The two friends are believed to have been the last to be killed before the cowardly shooter turned the gun on himself.
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded modifier
twisted 45-year-old grandfatherMore neutral: 45-year-old grandfather
Describing the gunman as twisted is a character judgement added in the outlet’s own voice.
…night to try to save Roberts’ niece when they were both killed by the twisted 45-year-old grandfather responsible for the shocking loss of life, according to online…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
shocking loss of lifeMore neutral: loss of life
The adjective manufactures drama beyond the factual account of the deaths.
…were both killed by the twisted 45-year-old grandfather responsible for the shocking loss of life, according to online fundraising campaigns.
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded modifier
EvilMore neutral: grandfather
Calling the gunman evil passes a moral verdict on him in the outlet’s own voice rather than describing what he is accused of.
Evil grandfather who massacred three generations of his own family is pictured for first…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Loaded verb
boastedMore neutral: wrote
Boasted implies bragging, while the post is a plain expression of excitement about a birth.
Angelina Stone boasted about the upcoming arrival of her "blessing" baby boy she was set to deliver Monday…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
grislyMore neutral: fatal
Grisly adds graphic drama beyond the fact of a fatal shooting.
The pregnant mom shot dead by her killer father in a grisly Pennsylvania murder-suicide boasted about the upcoming arrival of her “blessing” baby…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
horrific sceneMore neutral: scene
Horrific is a judgement that adds emotional weight to a factual description.
Matthew Stone Sr., 45, was identified Monday as the gunman behind the horrific scene that left his pregnant daughter Angelina Stone, 24, sons Matthew Stone Jr., 21,…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
Harrowing videoMore neutral: Video
Harrowing is an emotional judgement that adds drama to a factual description.
Harrowing video captured the moment people screamed and ran for their lives as gunshots rang out…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
blood-curdling screamMore neutral: loud scream
Blood-curdling adds drama beyond the fact that a person screamed.
…Friday to check out some sort of commotion when someone suddenly lets out a blood-curdling scream of “Oh my God!” Children can be heard screaming as the two women sprint back…
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
Chilling videoMore neutral: Video
Chilling is an emotional judgement added to a factual description of video.
Chilling video shows people running, screaming as grandpa massacres 8 in Erie home: ‘Oh my God!’
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Loaded verb
massacresMore neutral: kills
Massacres carries a heavier judgement than the neutral term for killing several people.
Chilling video shows people running, screaming as grandpa massacres 8 in Erie home: ‘Oh my God!’
Used byNew York Post (Right)
Sensational language
Horrifying videoMore neutral: Video
Horrifying is an emotional judgement that adds drama to a factual description of video.
Horrifying video captured women and children screaming as they ran from the scene of a mass…
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
bone chilling screamMore neutral: scream
Bone chilling adds drama beyond the fact that a scream was heard.
…on Friday unknowingly headed towards the massacre on Perry Street before a bone chilling scream can be heard.
Used byDaily Mail (Right)
Sensational language
years of descentMore neutral: after years of living inside his home
Describing the gunman’s home life as a descent is an interpretive narrative in the outlet’s own voice, not a reported fact.
…45, died of a self-inflicted gunshot on Friday evening, bringing a tragic end to years of descent inside his home on Perry Street in Erie, authorities said.
Used byNBC News (Left)
See for yourself
Side by side
What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.
From the left
9 outletsLeads with
- family ties of the victims
- children among the dead
- the city and authorities as sources
Leaves out
- Governor Josh Shapiro's description of a mass shooting
Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.
See the 9 headlines from the leftHide the headlines
- TheGrioLeft
Pennsylvania grandfather killed toddler granddaughter and seven others in mass shooting, authorities say
The victims included a 1-year-old girl, her pregnant mother and a 5-year-old boy, as investigators continue to examine the shooting. A Pennsylvania father is grieving the loss of his 1-year-old daughter after a mass shooting in Erie left eight
- CBS NewsLeft
Pennsylvania man who killed 8 people was "controlling" patriarch, police say
The Pennsylvania man accused of killing eight people "exercised significant control" over his family at their Erie home, police said.
1 more from CBS News
- NBC NewsLeft
Pennsylvania house that was scene of mass shooting was ‘filthy,’ filled with bottles of urine
A homicidal family patriarch had become a dominant, isolated, figure inside his “filthy” Erie, Pennsylvania, home before killing eight people.
- The GuardianLeft
Pennsylvania shooter who killed eight was a grandfather, says slain child’s dad
Father of toddler killed in Erie mass shooting says reported gunman never seemed distressed or out of the ordinary The man who killed eight people, before turning the gun on himself, in a mass shooting in a home in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday was a grandfather who had not …
1 more from The Guardian
Erie shooter who killed 8 was family’s patriarch, slain toddler’s dad says
The gunman was a grandfather who never seemed distressed, acquaintance says.
Also published by New York Post and The Epoch Times. It counts once.
8 dead in mass killing in Erie, Pennsylvania, authorities say
Authorities said the shooter is also dead, but they have not given many details about the incident that appeared to take place at a home.
Nine killed in shooting in US state of Pennsylvania, including two children
The shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania happened on Friday, according to state officials. The attacker is among the dead.
- The Daily BeastFar Left
Children Among 8 Shot Dead at Pennsylvania Home
Two young children are among eight people shot dead Friday in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that police initially responded to 911 calls that said a man was firing a gun outside a home. …
Multiple People Are Dead in Erie, Pa., Shooting, City Officials Say
The number of people killed or injured had not been released by city officials. The shooter was also dead, they said.
From the center
6 outletsLeads with
- the death toll as a number
- the mass shooting label
- Governor Josh Shapiro's response
See the 6 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
Authorities name the gunman and most of the 8 victims in last week's Erie mass shooting
The police chief hasn't said what the gunman's possible motives were, but he suggested that his mental health could have been a factor.
- NewsweekCenter
Who Was Angelina Stone? Pregnant Mom Killed in Pennsylvania Shooting
Stone was days away from giving birth when she was fatally shot, along with her 5-year-old son and daughter, who was nearly 2.
- Deutsche WelleCenter
Shooter kills 8 people and himself in Pennsylvania — police
The 45-year-old shooter, who is yet to be identified, carried out the killings at his home in Erie. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro offered support as the lakeside city grieves.
- Straight Arrow NewsCenter
9 dead after shooting in Erie, Pennsylvania
All nine people died before officers arrived at the scene of the shooting, city officials said in a statement Saturday.
- BBC NewsCenter
Nine dead in mass shooting at Pennsylvania home
Two children are reported to be among the victims in the city of Eerie.
- The HillCenter
9 people dead in Erie, Pennsylvania mass shooting
ERIE, Pa. (WJET) — Nine people are dead after what Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) described as a mass shooting in the city of Erie Friday night. Erie officials also confirmed Saturday morning that nine people lost their lives in what they're describing as a tragedy. …
From the right
11 outletsLeads with
- children among the dead
- the number of victims
- suspected murder-suicide
See the 13 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
- Daily MailRight
Screaming children and women run for their lives as grandpa kills 8 loved ones in Erie murder suicide
Matthew Stone Sr, 45, opened fire in his family's Pennsylvania home and murdered three generations of his own family before he killed himself.
5 more from Daily Mail
- Evil grandfather who massacred three generations of his own family is pictured for first time... as surviving dad says he 'wouldn't put this on his worst enemy'
- Grandpa slaughtered 9 of his loved ones in horror mass murder-suicide, including friends who were running to save kids from barrage of bullets
- Heavily-pregnant mom, 24, and her two children shot and killed in horrific Erie murder-suicide rampage that left nine dead
- Erie gunman killed eight including pregnant woman and two children after barricading himself inside home in SWAT standoff as police say rampage is 'most heartbreaking scene they've ever encountered'
- Nine people, including children, killed in Pennsylvania shooting that left bodies lying in the street, report says
- New York PostRight
Sensational language“Chilling video”Chilling is an emotional judgement added to a factual description of video.More neutral: VideoDisagree with this highlight? shows people running, screaming as grandpa Loaded verb“massacres”Massacres carries a heavier judgement than the neutral term for killing several people.More neutral: killsDisagree with this highlight? 8 in Erie home: ‘Oh my God!’
Sensational language“Harrowing video”Harrowing is an emotional judgement that adds drama to a factual description.More neutral: VideoDisagree with this highlight? captured the moment people screamed and ran for their lives as gunshots rang out from from the Erie, Pennsylvania home where a grandfather massacred nine people, including three generations of his family. …
5 more from New York Post
- Pa. killer grandpa ID’d as it’s revealed pregnant mom was thrilled to deliver ‘blessing’ baby boy
- 2 victims of Pa. grandpa’s murder-suicide that killed 9 ID’d as friends who carried out brave final act
- Grandpa ID’d as crazed killer who shot 9 of his kids, grandkids in shocking Pa. murder-suicide: relatives
- Pregnant Pennsylvania mom was days away from giving birth before she was among 8 killed in gunman’s shooting rampage
- Multiple people, including 2 children, dead in suspected murder-suicide at Pennsylvania home
- TheBlazeFar Right
Male, 45, fatally shoots 7 of his relatives, 1 family friend in home, police say; 1 victim was 8 months pregnant
A 45-year-old male fatally shot seven of his relatives and one family friend in an Erie, Pennsylvania, home, on Friday, police told the Associated Press . The gunman took his own life, the AP said, adding that authorities have not released his name. …
- Fox NewsFar Right
Pennsylvania gunman who killed 8 was grandfather who seemed normal, victim relatives say
The Erie, Pennsylvania gunman was a "good guy" before he "started going downhill," killing eight people and himself, a friend of a victim said.
- The Washington TimesRight
5 questions about the Erie, Pennsylvania, shooting
A 45-year-old man killed eight people, including a pregnant woman and two young children, at his Erie, Pennsylvania, home before taking his own life, and investigators are still working to determine why.
- The Daily WireFar Right
Gunman Who Killed Nine In House Shooting ID’d As Victim’s Grandpa
The father of one of the children killed over the weekend during a mass shooting at a Pennsylvania home said the murderer was his child’s grandfather. …
1 more from The Daily Wire
Shooting Leaves 9 Dead Including Suspect in Erie, Pennsylvania, Police Say
A man killed eight people including a pregnant woman, children and other relatives.
- TownhallFar Right
Nine Dead, Including Two Children, in Erie Mass Shooting
Nine people, including two children, were killed in a Sensational language“shootout”A shootout implies an exchange of gunfire, while the city says all deaths occurred before officers arrived and no shots were fired after they reached the scene.More neutral: shootingDisagree with this highlight? on Friday night in Erie, Pennsylvania.
- Washington ExaminerRight
Erie shooting leaves nine dead, governor says
Nine people are dead in Pennsylvania after a gunman opened fire Friday in Erie, Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) said Saturday. Two children appeared to be among those killed in a mass shooting after witnesses reported seeing a man firing a gun before he entered a home on Perry Street …
- Breitbart NewsFar Right
Numerous Dead, Including Man Who Opened Fire with Handgun Inside PA Home
At least seven innocents died, including children, after a man with a handgun opened fired shortly before 5 p.m. inside a home Friday in Erie, Pennsylvania.
- Just the NewsFar Right
Shooting in Pennsylvania results in multiple deaths: report
Police described the scene as horrific and said they currently do not know what led to the deaths.
Pennsylvania shooter who killed 8 was family’s patriarch, father of toddler killed says
New York Post published a report that is shown in full at ABC News. The headline is the one New York Post gave it.
Pennsylvania Shooter Who Killed 8 Was Family’s Patriarch, Father of Toddler Killed Says
The Epoch Times published a report that is shown in full at ABC News. The headline is the one The Epoch Times gave it.
Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?
The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.
Who reported it when
How the coverage built up
Left
6 hr 33 min later
Its first report, Oct 10, 6:37 AM EDT
Center
12 hr 22 min later
Its first report, Oct 10, 12:26 PM EDT
Right
First to report
Daily Mail, Oct 10, 12:03 AM EDT
See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
- Daily MailRightOct 10, 12:03 AM EDT
- New York PostRightOct 10, 12:26 AM EDT
- CBS NewsLeftOct 10, 6:37 AM EDT
- Fox NewsFar RightOct 10, 8:57 AM EDT
- Breitbart NewsFar RightOct 10, 10:03 AM EDT
- The Daily WireFar RightOct 10, 10:30 AM EDT
- The New York TimesLeftOct 10, 10:39 AM EDT
- The GuardianLeftOct 10, 11:45 AM EDT
- The HillCenterOct 10, 12:26 PM EDT
- Washington ExaminerRightOct 10, 12:49 PM EDT
- The Washington TimesRightOct 10, 12:51 PM EDT
- TownhallFar RightOct 10, 1:02 PM EDT
- BBC NewsCenterOct 10, 1:11 PM EDT
- Straight Arrow NewsCenterOct 10, 1:24 PM EDT
- NBC NewsLeftOct 10, 1:39 PM EDT
- The Daily BeastFar LeftOct 10, 1:47 PM EDT
- Al Jazeera EnglishLeftOct 10, 1:48 PM EDT
- The Washington PostLeftOct 10, 2:38 PM EDT
- Deutsche WelleCenterOct 10, 9:52 PM EDT
- The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 10, 11:09 PM EDT
- TheGrioLeftOct 11, 11:42 AM EDT
- NewsweekCenterOct 11, 3:51 PM EDT
- ABC NewsLeftOct 11, 6:29 PM EDT
- TheBlazeFar RightOct 12, 12:49 PM EDT
- PBS NewsHourCenterOct 12, 5:15 PM EDT
Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.
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