A 44-year-old man from Montana, USA, fatally shot eight relatives, including four children, while they were having dinner together. He then set the house on fire, destroying it completely, before taking his own life. The motive is believed to be anger after his parents asked him to move out of the home where he had lived for a long time. A 12-year-old girl among the victims was praised as a hero for staying calm and calling 911 to seek help for the family before dying.
A shocking mass shooting occurred in Billings, Montana, USA, when a 44-year-old man fatally shot eight family members. The victims included relatives across four generations, from a great-grandmother over 90 years old to a 7-year-old girl, all gathered for their weekly dinner.
The perpetrator was confirmed to be Alan Smith, aged 44. Police received the call on the evening of Sunday, 23 Aug, and upon arrival heard gunfire from the backyard. Soon after, the house caught fire rapidly and severely, weakening the structure down to its foundation. This hampered firefighters and investigators. Initial checks confirmed eight dead at the scene. The shooter later died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Brad Ireland, the ex-husband of one victim, revealed the victims spanned four age groups: Evelyn Smith, great-grandmother over 90 years old who used a wheelchair; Dana and Barb Smith, the perpetrator’s parents; Megan Gequier, his sister; and four children and teenagers: Owen Ireland (13), Charlotte Gequier (12), Landon Gequier (15), and Chloe Ireland (7).
Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend, along with Adam Gequier, Megan’s current husband who works at the airport and rushed to the scene after hearing the radio, both said that 12-year-old Charlotte Gequier was the hero of the event. She was the one who called 911 from inside the house to request emergency help for the family before she died.
Brad Ireland noted that Alan Smith was a reclusive individual who mostly stayed in his bedroom with his computer. Though he attended Eastern Washington University, he was unemployed. His criminal record showed no arrests or history of physical violence, though he sometimes used harsh language.
The main motive is believed to stem from his parents asking him to move out a few weeks prior after living together for many years. On the Sunday of the incident, Alan unexpectedly returned to the house, opened fire on the family gathered at the dinner table, then set the house on fire. He attempted to flee but was confronted by police and ended his own life.
This incident is the 22nd mass shooting in the United States this year. Statistics indicate that more than half of mass shootings in America are linked to family conflicts. The local community has established a GoFundMe fund to raise money for funeral expenses and to support the grieving family.