Eight family members killed in Billings home shooting before perpetrator's suicide
A man shot and killed eight relatives, including four children, during a Sunday dinner in Billings, Montana, and then died by suicide, authorities said.
Police responded to a residence in Billings, Montana, on Sunday evening after receiving reports of gunfire. Officers heard shots from the backyard and found the house ablaze, confirming multiple deaths, including a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A family spokesperson, Jennifer Mercer, who organized a fundraiser for funeral expenses, identified the victims as spanning four generations of a blended family, from a great-grandmother in her 90s to a 7-year-old girl.
"We are devastated by this tragedy and are focusing on supporting the surviving family members," Mercer said.
Neighbor David Hiller, who lives three doors down, initially thought the noise was fireworks around 6 p.m. He later learned of the shooting when another neighbor warned him, prompting Hiller to see police in tactical gear and black smoke rising from the home.