Image Source: AP News
Dinner at a Montana family home became the scene of a devastating shooting Sunday evening, leaving eight relatives dead, including four children. The killings occurred at a home outside Billings, where relatives had gathered for a regular family meal.
A family member told The Associated Press that 44-year-old Alan Smith returned to his parents’ home on Aug. 23, several weeks after they had asked him to move out. Smith then opened fire inside the house, according to Brad Ireland, whose former wife and two children were among those killed.
Shocking Dinner Shooting Leaves Four Children Dead
The victims represented four generations of a blended family. Their ages ranged from a great-grandmother in her 90s who used a wheelchair to a 7-year-old child, according to Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend who helped organize an online fundraiser.
- Megan Ghekiere
- Owen Ireland, 13
- Chloe Ireland, 7
- Landon Ghekiere, 15
- Charlotte Ghekiere, 12
Also killed were Smith’s parents and his grandmother. The family had moved to Montana from the Seattle area over several years, building a close network around weekly gatherings and shared meals.
Gunshots Followed by a Devastating Inferno
Billings police responded to the home Sunday evening after reports of gunfire. Officers heard shots coming from the back of the property shortly before the house became fully engulfed in flames.
Firefighters battled the blaze until about 1 a.m. Monday. The home, located in a subdivision outside city limits, burned nearly to its foundation. The area was not required to have fire hydrants, and firefighters had to wait until law enforcement determined the scene was secure before they could fully attack the fire.
Police confirmed Tuesday that eight people had died. Investigators said the suspect suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and later died. The condition of the burned structure complicated efforts to examine the scene and determine the precise sequence of events.
12-Year-Old Charlotte Ghekiere Called 911
Family friends said Charlotte Ghekiere made the emergency call from inside the home and tried to help save her family. Mercer described Charlotte as “the hero,” saying relatives wanted her actions remembered.
Charlotte’s father, Adam Ghekiere, was working at the Billings airport when he heard a dispatch report about an active shooting. He called members of his family and rushed to the property. When he arrived, the house was burning. He said he learned roughly two hours later that his wife and children had been killed.
“Monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did,” Ghekiere told AP.
He said the children were not expected to be at the Sunday dinner because the family usually gathered on Fridays. He also recalled Charlotte’s familiar response whenever he told her he loved her: “I love you more.”
Family Described Suspect as a Hermit
Ireland said Smith had spent years living with his parents before being asked to leave. He described Smith as a “hermit” who spent much of his time alone in his room using a computer.
According to Ireland, Smith had attended Eastern Washington University but struggled to find or keep employment. A search of criminal records in Montana and Washington found no indication that Smith had previously been arrested or charged with a crime. Ireland said Smith had not been known to commit physical violence, although he could be verbally abusive.
“There were many red flags and many people spoke out,” Ireland said. “No one listened.”
Montana Community Faces Deep Grief
Mercer said the family was loving and close, and that the children got along well. She said the tragedy had shaken the wider Billings community, including people who had never personally met the victims.
Friends have created fundraising campaigns to help Adam Ghekiere and Erica Schneider, the children’s mother, with funeral costs and other expenses. The investigation remains active as authorities continue examining the fire-damaged home and gathering information from relatives, neighbors and emergency responders.
The shooting was identified by the AP and USA Today database, maintained with Northeastern University, as the 22nd mass killing in the United States this year. Fifteen of those incidents stemmed from domestic disputes, a proportion higher than the long-term average of about half of U.S. mass killings, according to criminologist James Alan Fox.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Montana Dinner Shooting
Where did the shooting happen?
The shooting occurred at a home in a subdivision outside Billings, Montana.
How many people died?
Eight relatives were killed, including four children. The suspect also died after suffering a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Who called 911?
Family friends said 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere called 911 and tried to help her family.
What happened to the house?
The home caught fire after the shooting and burned nearly to its foundation, complicating the investigation.
How is the community responding?
Friends and neighbors are mourning the family and raising money to help cover funeral expenses and other costs.
