A gunman identified as Alan Smith, 44, killed eight family members, including four children, at a Montana home before taking his own life, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The victims represented four generations of a blended family and included a 92-year-old great-grandmother and a 7-year-old girl.
Smith was a relative of the victims and had recently been instructed to move out of the home where the massacre occurred, according to Brad Ireland, the father of two of the deceased and ex-husband of another victim. Investigators are working to determine a motive for the violence, which took place during a Sunday dinner.
The home in Billings, Montana, was set on fire after the shootings. Emergency services responded to the scene on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Family friend and neighbor Jennifer Mercer described the victims as a close-knit family. The deceased include Owen Ireland, Megan Ghekiere, Chloe Ireland, Charlotte Ghekiere, Adam Ghekiere, and Landon Ghekiere.
Law enforcement officials are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.