“THERE WERE SO MANY RED FLAGS”: MONTANA MAN KILLED 8 RELATIVES AFTER PARENTS ASKED HIM TO MOVE OUT

A family dinner in Montana turned into an unimaginable tragedy when a 44-year-old man killed eight of his relatives, including four children, before the home was set on fire.

The victims came from four generations of the same family.

And now, relatives say there had been warning signs in the weeks leading up to the tragedy.

HE HAD BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE

The man, identified as Alan Smith, had previously lived at his parents’ home outside Billings.

According to a family member who spoke with The Associated Press, Smith’s parents had asked him to move out several weeks before the August 23 incident.

His former brother-in-law, Brad Ireland, said there had been what he described as “many red flags” surrounding Smith’s behavior.

But no one could have predicted how devastating the situation would become.

FOUR GENERATIONS LOST

Among those killed were Smith’s parents, Dana and Barbara Smith, his 92-year-old grandmother Evelyn Smith, his sister Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, and Megan’s four children.

The children were identified as Chloe, Owen, Charlotte and Landon.

The victims ranged in age from just 7 years old to 92.

A single family gathering had suddenly wiped out multiple generations.

A 12-YEAR-OLD TRIED TO GET HELP

One of the most heartbreaking details to emerge involves 12-year-old Charlotte.

During the terrifying incident, she managed to call 911 and alert authorities.

She has since been remembered by relatives and members of the community for trying to protect her family during the chaos.

But despite her desperate attempt to get help, Charlotte was among those who did not survive.

THEN THE HOUSE WENT UP IN FLAMES

When officers arrived, they encountered a home engulfed in fire.

Investigators have been working through the heavily damaged property as they attempt to reconstruct exactly what happened inside.

Smith was later found outside the residence and also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities.

Because the suspected perpetrator also died, investigators may never receive a direct explanation for what triggered the tragedy.

“MANY RED FLAGS”

That uncertainty has left surviving relatives struggling with one painful question:

Could anything have been done differently?

Brad Ireland said people had previously raised concerns about Smith’s behavior.

Yet there was no clear indication that the family gathering would become the scene of such an extraordinary tragedy.

Now, investigators are examining the evidence left behind while the community mourns eight members of one family.

A COMMUNITY LEFT IN SHOCK

A candlelight vigil drew more than a thousand people as residents gathered to remember the victims.

For those who knew the family, the tragedy is no longer just a headline.

It is the loss of parents, children, grandparents, siblings and relatives who had gathered for what should have been an ordinary Sunday dinner.

Eight family members are gone. Four of them were children.

And as investigators search the burned remains for answers, surviving relatives are left trying to understand how a family gathering could end in such unimaginable devastation.