Montana Man Kills 8 Relatives, Including 4 Children, at Family Dinner Before Setting Home Ablaze

BILLINGS, Mont. – A 44-year-old man opened fire during a family dinner Sunday evening at a home outside Billings, killing eight of his relatives spanning four generations, including four children. before setting the house on fire and fatally shooting himself, authorities and family members said.

Police responded to a 911 call reporting a family disturbance and shooting at a residence on White Star Circle around 6 p.m. on Aug. 23. Dispatchers heard gunfire on the line. Officers arrived about 11 minutes later, still hearing shots coming from the back of the property. Within minutes, the home became fully engulfed in flames.

Dramatic video from the scene captured thick smoke billowing from the roof of the suburban home as multiple Billings Police vehicles arrived with lights flashing. Officers can be seen moving carefully around the property, taking cover near patrol cars while the fire intensified. Firefighters faced significant challenges: the home is in a subdivision outside city limits without fire hydrants, and crews had to wait for the scene to be secured before fully attacking the blaze, which burned into the early morning hours.

Investigators later confirmed eight victims died. four adults and four juveniles. The suspected gunman, identified by relatives as Alan Smith, 44, was found outside with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead.

Family members said Smith, who had lived with his parents for years, was asked to move out weeks earlier. He returned unannounced Sunday while the blended family gathered for their weekly dinner and opened fire, according to Brad Ireland, whose former wife and two children were among those killed.

The victims included Smith’s parents, Dana and Barb Smith; his 92-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Smith, who used a wheelchair; his sister, Megan Ghekiere; and four children: Owen Ireland, 13; Chloe Ireland, 7; Landon Ghekiere, 15; and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12.

Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, has been described by family friends as a hero. She placed the 911 call from inside the home, reporting the shooting and an unconscious child even as gunshots continued in the background.

Authorities emphasized the attack was not random and that there was no ongoing threat to the public. The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and Billings Police continue to investigate the complex scene, where fire and water damage have complicated the recovery of remains. Officials said the process is expected to take several more days.

A GoFundMe organized by a family friend has been set up to help cover funeral expenses for the victims. Neighbors described hearing what they initially thought were fireworks before realizing the scale of the tragedy unfolding on their quiet cul-de-sac.

The investigation remains active.