Man kills eight relatives, including four children, at Montana home before setting fire and suicide
A 44-year-old man killed eight relatives, including four children, during a Sunday dinner at a home outside Billings, Montana, before setting the house on fire and fatally shooting himself, authorities and family members said.
The victims spanned four generations of a blended family, from a 92-year-old great-grandmother to a 7-year-old girl, according to Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend who set up a fundraiser for funeral expenses. Mercer identified the homeowners as Dana Smith, 72, and his wife Barb Smith, 69, parents of Megan Ghekiere, who died alongside her children Chloe Ireland, 7, and Owen Ireland, 13. Also killed were Ghekiere’s stepchildren, Landon Ghekiere, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12.
Brad Ireland, whose ex-wife Megan Ghekiere and two children were among the dead, identified the shooter as Alan Smith. Smith’s parents had asked him to move out weeks before the attack, Ireland told The Associated Press. Police responded to the home Sunday evening after a 911 call and heard gunshots from the back of the house just before it was fully engulfed in flames, Billings Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Mayo said .
Firefighters were delayed in battling the blaze because the scene was not immediately secure, and the subdivision lacked fire hydrants, Billings Fire Chief Matt Hoppel said. “The delay and limited access presented significant challenges,” Hoppel stated . The suspect was found outside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died at a hospital.
Authorities confirmed Tuesday that eight people, including four children, were killed, but structural damage from the fire has complicated recovery efforts. “Efforts to recover their remains safely are ongoing. The scene remains active and is expected to stay that way for several more days,” the Billings Police Department said in a statement .
Mercer said Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, called 911 and tried to save her family. “Charlotte was the hero,” Mercer told the AP . The family had relocated from the Seattle area, she added.
The investigation is ongoing, with police planning a press conference Wednesday to provide further details. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office stated the incident stemmed from a family conflict and posed no further public threat .
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