A man fatally shot eight of his relatives during a Sunday dinner gathering before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities reported. Alan Smith, 44, had previously been asked by his parents to leave their home near Billings, Montana. He returned Sunday and opened fire, according to Brad Ireland, whose former wife and two children are among the victims. Smith killed his grandmother, parents, younger sister, and four children, then set the house ablaze.
Police responded to the incident on Sunday evening, hearing gunshots and witnessing the house engulfed in flames. On Tuesday, investigators confirmed eight victims were involved and identified the cause of Smith’s death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The victims were part of a blended family, ranging in age from a seven-year-old girl to a great-grandmother in her 90s who used a wheelchair, said family friend Jennifer Mercer.
Smith, described as a ‘hermit,’ spent most of his time in his room on his computer, according to Ireland, living in Arizona. Ireland noted numerous red flags but said they were ignored. Despite attending Eastern Washington University, Smith struggled to maintain employment and had no criminal record in Montana or Washington. After years living with his parents, Smith was asked to leave weeks before the incident. Unexpectedly, he returned for the family dinner.
Ireland described Smith as never physically violent but sometimes verbally abusive. Ireland’s ex-wife, Megan Ghekiere, and their children, Owen, 13, and Chloe Ireland, 7, were killed. Megan’s stepchildren, Landon, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, also died. Originally from the Seattle area, Ireland and Megan had divorced six years ago, after which Megan moved to Montana with the children. In Montana, she met her second husband, Adam Ghekiere, who was working when the shooting happened.
Adam Ghekiere discovered the tragedy via a dispatch radio. By the time he reached the house, it was on fire. He learned hours later about the deaths. Adam’s children were not supposed to attend the dinner as it was usually held on Fridays.
I don’t think he expected my kids to be there,Ghekiere said of his brother-in-law.
In response to the tragedy, friends established two GoFundMe accounts. One page aims to support Adam Ghekiere and his ex-wife, Erica Schneider. As of Wednesday, over $60,000 was raised for memorial and funeral costs.
Landon Ghekiere was described as a caring young man eager to obtain his driver’s license. Charlotte, known for her playful spirit and love for nature, was credited with calling 911 during the chaos. A separate GoFundMe for Adam Ghekiere has collected over $90,000. Organizer Michael Solberg highlighted Adam’s career dedicated to helping others and expressed hope the funds would cover therapy, time off work, and unexpected expenses stemming from the tragedy.