Michelle Marie Lemons Stone was a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, born on July 29, 1982, to her mother, Brenda Gregory. A graduate of Strong Vincent High School, she also attended the Erie Business School. Those who knew her as a child remembered her by the nickname "Mickey" and recalled thinking she was "the absolute coolest person." She was a 44-year-old mother and grandmother when her life was tragically cut short.
On the afternoon of Friday, October 9, 2026, Michelle was killed in a
mass shooting that claimed the lives of nine people, including three generations of her own family. The gunman was her 45-year-old husband, Matthew Stone, who murdered Michelle, their three adult children, two of their grandchildren, and an unborn grandson inside their home on Perry Street in Erie. He also killed Michelle's sister and a family friend who had come to the house out of concern.
The other victims in the home were the couple's children: Angelina Stone, 24, Matthew Stone Jr., 21, and Jonathan Stone, 19. Also killed were Angelina's two young children, 5-year-old Isiah Hodges and 22-month-old Amari’anna Stone. Angelina was eight months pregnant and just five days away from her due date for a son she planned to name Kyrie; the unborn child also died. After killing his family inside, Matthew Stone went outside and shot Michelle's sister, 37-year-old Lora Roberts, and a family friend, 51-year-old Twila Tanner. He then returned inside the home and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Erie Police Department's investigation revealed a disturbing history of control and domestic violence. Family members told detectives that Matthew Stone had exercised significant control over his family for years, dictating their finances and limiting their ability to leave the house or see relatives. This controlling behavior reportedly began after Michelle became pregnant with their first child. In the days before the shooting, Angelina had expressed concerns about her father's deteriorating mental health. Police also noted a 2019 domestic violence charge against him involving Michelle and a .40-caliber handgun, the same weapon used in the murders. The charges were dropped after Michelle changed her statement.
The tragic events of that Friday began to unfold around 4:39 p.m. when Angelina made a distressing video call to her aunt, Lora Roberts. Roberts messaged that she was on her way and also alerted another relative that Angelina needed help. Roberts and Tanner arrived at the Perry Street home about ten minutes later. Surveillance footage captured the two women appearing distressed and seeking help before Matthew Stone emerged and shot them. A ShotSpotter alert notified police of gunfire at 4:52 p.m. Arriving officers found Roberts and Tanner deceased outside the residence.
After a standoff and attempts to make contact, a SWAT team entered the home. They discovered the bodies of the two young children on the first floor. On the stairwell and second floor, they found Michelle, Angelina, Matthew Jr., and Jonathan. The gunman was found deceased on the second floor. Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the crime scene as the worst he had ever encountered in his career. The investigation concluded that all the victims were killed before police arrived on the scene. As of October 2026, the case was considered closed as the primary suspect was deceased.
The community mourned the immense loss of life with a candlelight vigil the following night. Separate GoFundMe campaigns were organized by friends and family to help with funeral expenses and provide support for the surviving children of Lora Roberts and Twila Tanner. In her obituary, Michelle was preceded in death by her three children, three grandchildren, her sister, and her grandmother.
