A man identified as Alan Smith killed eight members of his family, including his wife, two of his children, and his 92-year-old great-grandmother, before setting their Montana home on fire on Sunday evening. Smith, 44, died by suicide shortly after the attack.
Family spokesperson Brad Ireland identified Smith as the shooter and stated that Smith's parents had recently asked him to move out of the residence. He returned on Sunday and opened fire during a family dinner.
Among the victims were Adam Ghekiere's wife, Megan, their children Charlotte, 12, and Landon, 15, Ghekiere's two stepchildren, Chloe, 7, and Owen, 13, and their great-grandmother. Two other family members were also killed.
Adam Ghekiere, a rescue firefighter, was at an airshow when he learned of the tragedy through his department's communications system. He attempted to contact the house by phone but received no answer. He also checked the locations of his children, Landon and Charlotte, with no success.
"By the time we got to the house, they wouldn’t let us get any closer because it was still under an active shooter status. I feared the worst right then," Ghekiere told The US Sun.
Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office interim Sheriff Kent O'Donnell reported that gunshots were heard during a 911 call, and the house was set ablaze within three minutes. The 911 dispatcher noted that shots were being fired and that an unconscious child was inside.
Responding firefighters faced significant challenges due to a lack of fire hydrants in the area, which hampered their efforts. "The delay and limited access presented significant challenges. Fire conditions continued to worsen, and the residence ultimately became heavily involved and was consumed by fire," said Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel.
Online fundraisers and tributes described Landon, 15, as a loving and caring young man preparing for his sophomore year of high school, who was looking forward to getting his driver's license. Charlotte, 12, was remembered as funny, precocious, and adorable, with a love for exploring the world around her.
The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office and other agencies are investigating the events leading up to the shooting and the subsequent fire.