Billings, Montana.— Authorities and relatives have revealed new details about the devastating sh00t1ng and house fire that left eight members of one family d3ad, including four children, on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
The suspected sh00ter has now been identified as Alan Smith, 44, a relative of the victims. According to family members interviewed by the Associated Press, Smith allegedly opened f1re during a Sunday family dinner before the residence was consumed by flames.
The eight victims were identified by relatives as Megan Ghekiere; Landon Ghekiere, 15; Charlotte Ghekiere, 12; Owen Ireland, 13; Chloe Ireland, 7; Dana Smith; Barb Smith; and Evelyn Smith, the family’s 92-year-old great-grandmother.
Adam Ghekiere, Megan’s husband and an airport rescue firefighter, was working when the attack occurred. He lost his wife and the four children in the family. A fundraiser organized by coworker Michael Solberg confirms that Adam was an Airport Rescue Firefighter and suffered the loss while away at work.
Authorities received the first 911 call at approximately 6:01 p.m. from the home on White Star Circle. The first officer arrived at 6:12 p.m., and additional g0nsh0ts were heard from behind the residence. Within minutes, smoke was visible and the house became engulfed in f1re.
Family members revealed another heartbreaking detail: Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, was the person who called 911 in an effort to get help for her family. Relatives have since described Charlotte as a hero for attempting to save those inside.
Firefighters faced significant difficulties reaching and controlling the blaze. Billings Fire Chief Matt Hoppel explained that the subdivision was outside municipal limits and did not have nearby fire hydrants, while emergency crews also had to wait until the scene was sufficiently secure.
Alan Smith was initially found alive with what authorities described as an apparently self-inflicted g0nsh0t w0und. He was transported to a hospital but later d13d. Investigators have said the episode originated as a family disturbance and was not a random attack against strangers.
Relatives told the Associated Press that Smith’s parents had recently asked him to leave their home, providing investigators with important family context. However, authorities continue investigating the precise motive and sequence of events.
The case spans several generations of the same family, from 7-year-old Chloe Ireland to 92-year-old Evelyn Smith, and has left the Billings community mourning one of the most devastating acts of family v10l3nce the area has experienced.
