A tragic event has shaken Billings, in the US state of Montana, where a 44-year-old man is suspected of killing eight members of his family, including four children, before setting fire to his apartment and shooting himself.
Police arrived at the scene after a report of gunshots. According to authorities, officers heard gunshots coming from the back of the apartment, which was later completely engulfed in flames.
The suspect, Alan Smith, had lived with his parents in the same apartment for years. According to family members, he was asked to leave a few weeks ago, but returned on Sunday, just as the family was gathering for their weekly dinner.
Among the victims were Smith's parents, his grandmother and sister, as well as Megan Ghekiere and four children. The tragedy affected four generations of the same family, from a woman in her 90s who used a wheelchair to the youngest victim, a girl just 7 years old.
Authorities confirmed eight victims, and said Smith had also shot himself. The fire completely destroyed the apartment, making it difficult for investigators to find the cause. Firefighters continued to battle the flames until about 1 a.m. Monday morning.
Among the children who lost their lives were Owen Ireland, 13, Chloe Ireland, 7, Landon Ghekiere, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12.
Family members have described Charlotte as a hero, after the 12-year-old managed to call the emergency number 911 and tried to seek help for her family while the attack was in progress.
The family was originally from the Seattle area and had moved to Montana several years earlier. According to relatives, Smith was a reclusive person who spent most of his time in his room in front of his computer.
Brad Ireland stated that there had been warning signs earlier and people had raised concerns about the 44-year-old's behavior, but according to him, no intervention had been taken.
Megan Ghekiere's husband, Adam Ghekiere, was at work at the time of the attack. He learned of the shooting on the radio and immediately tried to contact family members. When he arrived at the scene, the apartment was engulfed in flames. About two hours later, he received confirmation that his wife and children had died.
According to Ghekiere, his daughter Charlotte was the one who called 911 from inside the house in an attempt to save the family.
"I constantly hear her repeating the phrase she said every time: 'I love you,' and she would respond: 'I love you more,'" he confessed.
