Montana gunman killed 8 relatives after parents asked him to move out: ‘Many red flags’
Four generations of a family, including a 92-year-old woman and four children, died in the massacre last weekend
NEED TO KNOW
- Alan Smith killed eight relatives, including four children, before setting their Montana home on fire
- Family members had raised concerns about Alan, who was described by his former brother-in-law as a “hermit” with “many red flags”
- GoFundMe pages have since been created to support surviving relatives
More details are coming to light about the massacre that left four generations of a family dead in a Montana home last weekend.
The victims were identified by the Billings Gazette as Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, 39; her children Chloe Ireland, 7, and Owen Ireland, 13; her two stepchildren Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, and Landon Ghekiere, 15; her parents Dana Smith, 73, and Barbara Smith, 72; and Dana’s 92-year-old mother Evelyn Smith.
Police confirmed to PEOPLE they were killed by 44-year-old Alan Smith in the Billings home on Sunday, Aug. 23. According to the Associated Press, Alan targeted his grandmother, parents, sister and her children.
Alan, who was Dana and Barbara’s son, then died by suicide, police said.
Brad Ireland, father to Owen and Chloe and Alan’s former brother-in-law, reportedly said there were numerous “red flags” about the killer but they’d fallen on deaf ears.
“There were many red flags and many people spoke out,” Brad told the Associated Press, adding that Alan was a “hermit” who spent most of his time on the computer. “No one listened.”
Alan, who Brad said could not hold down a job, had been asked to move out of the home just weeks before the slayings, the outlet reported.
As the family gathered for their “Sunday dinner,” he went on his rampage before setting the house on fire.
Officers were notified about the situation after Charlotte called 911, her family friends previously told the AP, lauding her for her heroic act.
“The one thing we do know is that Charlotte was the hero,” Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend told the outlet. “Charlotte called 911 and she tried to save her family. And that’s something the family does want out there.”
An officer responding to the report of a “family disturbance” heard shots coming from behind the home, Billings police previously said in a statement. Within minutes, there was smoke coming from the house which was soon “fully engulfed.”
Now, police are sifting through torched remains as they continue their investigation, AP reported.
“There’s many questions that will come from this investigation,” Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said during a Wednesday, Aug. 26 news conference, according to the outlet. “Some of those questions we probably won’t ever be able to answer, because all the parties that will have those answers are not here to answer them for us.”
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
More than a thousand people attended candlelight vigil for the victims on Thursday evening, according to the Billings Gazette.
“I hope when you look around this park tonight, you see what we all see,” said Justin Hutchinson, a popular local radio show host. “You see a community. You see people who showed up. And you see a whole lot of people who may not have known your family five days ago, but who know their names tonight, and who will carry them with us.
“Billings is hurting with you,” he added, according to the Montana Free Press. “And tonight we stand with you.”
Separate GoFundMe pages have been set up to assist Charlotte and Landon’s mother and stepfather, their father and Megan’s husband Adam Ghekiere, and Owen and Chloe’s father Brad in the wake of the tragedy.
