Montana man told to move out by his parents allegedly shot eight relatives dead at Sunday dinner before torching house

“THEY TOLD ME TO MOVE OUT, SO I CAME BACK TO DINNER TO END IT ALL”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY A 44-YEAR-OLD MONTANA MAN KILLED EIGHT MEMBERS OF HIS OWN FAMILY ACROSS FOUR GENERATIONS BEFORE SETTING THE HOUSE ON FIRE AND TAKING HIS OWN LIFE.

A Sunday family dinner outside Billings, Montana, became the scene of a devastating mass killing on August 23, 2026.

Eight relatives were gathered together inside the residence.

Four of the victims were children.

The victims spanned four generations of the family.

They ranged in age from a great-grandmother in her 90s who used a wheelchair to a 7-year-old girl.

Authorities identified the attacker as 44-year-old Alan Smith.

Smith was related to every person inside the home.

According to family members, Smith had lived with his parents for years.

Relatives said he largely kept to himself during that time.

Smith spent much of his time alone in his room on his computer, family members said.

Several weeks before the killings, his parents reportedly told him he needed to move out.

He did move out.

Then, on Sunday, he unexpectedly returned during the family’s dinner.

Authorities say Smith opened fire on his own relatives.

The victims were his parents, Dana and Barb Smith.

His grandmother, Evelyn Smith, was also killed in the attack.

Smith shot and killed his younger sister, Megan Ghekiere.

Megan’s children, 13-year-old Owen Ireland and 7-year-old Chloe Ireland, were also killed.

Her stepchildren, 15-year-old Landon Ghekiere and 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere, were killed as well.

But Megan’s husband, Adam Ghekiere, was not at home during the shooting.

He was working at the Billings airport at the time.

While at work, Adam reportedly heard dispatch traffic concerning an active shooting.

He began calling his family members.

Nobody answered.

Adam rushed home to the residence.

He arrived to find the family house engulfed in flames.

Police officers had responded to the scene at approximately 6:01 p.m.

As officers arrived, authorities say they heard gunfire coming from behind the residence.

The structure became fully engulfed in fire as the response took place.

The home’s location reportedly complicated firefighting efforts because there were no nearby fire hydrants.

The structure eventually burned down to its foundation.

Yet before officers arrived, one child inside managed to make an extraordinary attempt to save everyone.

Twelve-year-old Charlotte called 911 while the attack was unfolding.

A family friend later described Charlotte as “the hero,” saying she tried to save her family.

Her father said whenever he told Charlotte, “I love you,” she had a familiar response: “I love you more.”

Family members have also claimed there had been warning signs involving Smith before the killings occurred.

Megan’s former husband, Brad Ireland, said “many red flags” had been raised and that people had spoken out but weren’t listened to.

Authorities say Alan Smith ultimately died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.