MONTANA FAMILY TRAGEDY: WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE BILLINGS HOME ATTACK

BILLINGS, Mont. — A Sunday family gathering in Billings ended in tragedy after eight members of the same family, including four children, were found dead inside a home that later became engulfed in flames.

Authorities identified 44-year-old Alan Smith as the suspected perpetrator. Police said Smith was also found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted injury. The investigation remains ongoing as detectives work to establish what led to the devastating incident.

FOUR GENERATIONS AMONG THE VICTIMS

The victims reportedly ranged in age from a 7-year-old girl to a woman in her 90s, representing four generations of the same family.

Those identified include Smith’s parents, Dana and Barb Smith, his grandmother Evelyn Smith, his sister Megan Ghekiere, and four children: Owen Ireland, 13; Chloe Ireland, 7; Landon Ghekiere, 15; and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12.

Megan’s husband, Adam Ghekiere, was working when the incident occurred and was not inside the home.

A 12-YEAR-OLD CALLED 911

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

According to people close to the family, Charlotte called 911 during the incident in an attempt to get help.

Family friend Jennifer Mercer described Charlotte as a hero and said the family wanted people to remember the courage she showed during the crisis.

THE HOUSE WAS SOON ENGULFED IN FLAMES

Billings police responded shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday following reports of an emergency at the residence.

Officers reportedly heard sounds coming from behind the home before the property became engulfed in flames.

The fire complicated the investigation and recovery effort as emergency crews worked to secure the scene.

Authorities ultimately confirmed that eight family members had died.

SMITH HAD BEEN LIVING WITH HIS PARENTS

According to relatives who spoke with the Associated Press, Smith had been living with his parents for years and had recently been asked to move out.

Brad Ireland, the father of Owen and Chloe, described Smith as someone who largely kept to himself and spent significant amounts of time alone on his computer.

Police have not publicly established a motive for the killings.

A FAMILY MEMBER ARRIVED TOO LATE

Adam Ghekiere, Megan’s husband and an airport rescue firefighter, said he learned about the emergency through a dispatch radio.

He attempted to contact his family and rushed toward the house.

By the time he arrived, the residence was already burning.

He later learned that his wife and children were among those who had died.

INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS

The tragedy has left surviving relatives grieving several generations of their family at once.

Fundraisers have been established to assist relatives with funeral expenses, counseling and other costs.

Investigators are continuing to reconstruct what happened inside the home before emergency crews arrived and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

For now, one question remains at the center of the investigation: What happened inside the Billings home before the fire erupted, and what led to such a devastating loss of life?