A man killed eight of his relatives before setting their Montana home on fire, according to authorities. The incident occurred at a house outside Billings.
Interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell stated that the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Alan Smith, is believed to have arrived at the property around 5:50 p.m. local time. Neighbors reported hearing sounds similar to fireworks approximately ten minutes later.
At 6:01 p.m., a female inside the residence made a 911 call, reporting that people were injured while gunshots could be heard in the background, Sheriff O’Donnell said.
Investigators believe the victims, including 72-year-old Barbara Smith and her 73-year-old husband Dana, were having dinner when their son, Alan Smith, who had recently been asked to leave the property, arrived and began shooting. The blended family's members were all present at the time of the attack.
Aftermath of the Fire
During the subsequent investigation, a deputy discovered a family photo album and a Bible belonging to homeowner Barbara Smith that were remarkably intact, Sheriff O’Donnell noted. He described the recovery of these items as "largely intact" amidst the ashes of the fire-destroyed home.
"If that doesn’t make you think something higher is involved," Sheriff O’Donnell commented to the media, reflecting on the survival of the personal items amid the destruction.