A Montana town is in mourning after four children and four adults were gunned down in their home before the property was set on fire. Alan Smith, 44, is accused of shooting and killing his family after being told to move out of his parents’ home in Billings, Montana. The victims range from a woman in her nineties to a seven-year-old girl.
Shooting follows eviction notice
The murders unfolded shortly after Smith was told to move out of the home, according to Brad Ireland, whose ex-wife and children were killed. Ireland’s ex-wife, Megan Ghekiere, and their children Owen, 13, and Chloe, 7, died. Also killed were Megan’s two stepchildren from her current husband: Landon Ghekiere, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12.
Adam Ghekiere, the father of Landon and Charlotte, told AP: ‘I don’t think he expected my kids to be there. ‘Monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did.’
Fire hampers investigation
Officers were called around 6pm on Sunday after a family meal. When they arrived, the property was engulfed in flames. Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said: ‘Because of the fire and obviously water that goes to suppress that fire, it’s going to slow our investigation of the crime scene recovery of evidence. ‘So we ask for patience as we complete this investigation.’
Jennifer Mercer, a neighbour, said a 12-year-old girl, one of the victims, was a ‘hero’. ‘She called 911, and she tried to save her family. And that’s something the family does want out there,’ she explained.
Family and community react
Another person close to the family said: ‘There were many red flags and many people spoke out. No one listened.’ Brad Ireland said that Smith was a ‘hermit’ who spent days inside of his room on his computer. ‘No one knew what he did in there 24/7.’
