Eight family members killed in Billings home shooting and fire

A shooting and subsequent fire at a Billings, Montana home on Sunday resulted in eight deaths, including four children, according to local authorities. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Alan Smith, returned to the residence after being asked by his parents to move out weeks earlier and opened fire on family members gathered for dinner. Police later confirmed that Smith died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Victims spanned four generations, ranging from a great-grandmother in her 90s who used a wheelchair to a 7-year-old girl. Among those killed were Megan Ghekiere, her ex-husband Brad Ireland’s former wife, and their children Owen (13) and Chloe (7). Also deceased were Ghekiere’s stepchildren, Landon (15) and Charlotte (12).

Firefighters battled the blaze until about 1 a.m., but the structure was reduced to its foundation, complicating the investigation, police spokesperson Jeff Stovall said. The house was located in an unincorporated subdivision without municipal fire hydrants, which delayed firefighting efforts.

A neighbor who organized a fundraiser for the family, Jennifer Mercer, said the children had called 911 before the fire spread. "Charlotte called 911 and tried to save her family," Mercer said.

Investigators noted that Smith, originally from the Seattle area, had lived with his parents in Billings for years before being asked to leave. He had no prior criminal record and was described by relatives as a reclusive individual who spent most of his time alone in his room. No evidence of previous violence was found.

The incident is the 22nd mass killing recorded in the United States this year, according to a database compiled by the Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The majority of recent mass killings have stemmed from domestic disputes, criminologist James Alan Fox said.