BILLINGS, MT — Eight people were killed after a gunman who was also a family member opened fire inside a Montana home and then set the house on fire, according to Billings police. Officers responded Sunday evening and reported hearing gunshots from the back of the residence before flames engulfed the structure.
Investigators said Tuesday that four children and four adults died in the attack. Crews were still working to safely recover the victims’ remains, while a large number of personnel remained on scene because the damaged house had become unstable.
Police have not publicly released the identities of the dead, saying the investigation and recovery process were still active. A 12-year-old girl inside the home called 911 during the attack, and family members said she tried to help her relatives before she died.
Fire crews waited until officers secured the scene before the blaze could be fully attacked
Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel said firefighters battled the fire until about 1 a.m. Monday. The home sits in a subdivision outside city limits, where fire hydrants were not required, adding another obstacle for crews trying to stop the flames.
Officials said the fire response was delayed because law enforcement first had to secure the scene. By the time crews could move in, the blaze had already spread through the house and caused major structural damage.
The police department and Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office said the condition of the building forced investigators to proceed carefully and methodically. They said the remaining work at the site was being done to protect both personnel and evidence as they continued to examine what happened.
Family members say the shooting happened during dinner after weeks of tension inside the home
Family members told The Associated Press the violence began during a dinner at the house. They said it came weeks after the suspect’s parents had asked him to move out, adding a personal conflict to the tragedy.
Brad Ireland, whose former wife and two children were among the dead, identified the shooter as 44-year-old Alan Smith. He said Smith’s parents were also killed and that Smith tried to flee before being confronted by law enforcement.
Adam Ghekiere said his children were not supposed to be at the home, explaining that family dinners were usually held on Fridays. He said police confirmed that 12-year-old Charlotte called 911 from inside the house.
Victims included parents, children and stepchildren as community members raised funds and shared grief
Those killed included Megan Ghekiere, the mother of Owen Ireland, 13, and Chloe Ireland, 7. Also killed were Megan Ghekiere’s stepchildren, Landon Ghekiere, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, along with other family members whose names have not yet been released publicly.
Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend, started an online fundraiser for the relatives left behind. She said Charlotte had tried to save her family during the attack, underscoring the fear and confusion inside the home.
Adam Ghekiere said words could not fully describe what happened, calling the killer a monster. The case is now being treated as an active investigation, and officials have said they are withholding names to avoid interfering with recovery efforts and the wider probe.
Montana attack stands as the deadliest U.S. mass killing since a Louisiana family shooting in April
Authorities described the killings as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since April. In that earlier case, a Louisiana father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, and wounded his wife and another woman.
The comparison places the Montana case among the most severe family-linked mass shootings in recent months. Police have not said what led to the gunman opening fire or why the fire was set after the shooting began.
For now, investigators remain focused on identifying the dead, recovering remains and piecing together the final moments inside the home. Officials have given no timeline for when the scene will be fully cleared or when more details may be released.
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