A 12-year-old girl who was among eight family members gunned down in a Montana massacre by a relative has been hailed as a “hero” for trying to save her loved ones.
Police confirmed that 44-year-old Alan Smith killed his grandmother Dana Smith (73), mother Barbara Smith (72), younger sister Megan Ireland-Ghekiere (39), and four children: Landon Ghekiere (15), Charlotte Ghekiere (12), Owen Ireland (13), and Chloe Ireland (7). The incident also claimed the life of Evelyn Smith, 92, who was described as the “family matriarch” by interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell.
Brad Ireland, Megan Ireland-Ghekiere’s ex-husband, stated that Smith had lived in his parents’ home for years and was asked to move out approximately two weeks prior. Smith returned to the residence on Sunday evening and opened fire during a dinner gathering.
Authorities reported Smith arrived at the home around 5:49 p.m., just 11 minutes before neighbors heard what they believed were fireworks. Law enforcement officers responded by 6:10 p.m. after receiving a call from someone inside the house. A final gunshot was heard at approximately 6:13 p.m., and Smith was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital with self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Adam Ghekiere, Megan Ireland-Ghekiere’s husband, learned about the active shooting via radio dispatch and raced to the scene. When he arrived, the house was engulfed in flames. Two hours after reaching the crime scene, Ghekiere confirmed his wife, two children, and two stepchildren had been killed.
Ghekiere stated: “Monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did.”
Jennifer Mercer, a neighbor and family friend, added: “Charlotte was the hero that dialed 911. She tried to save her family.”
The suspect’s residence lay outside Billings city limits on county land without mandatory fire hydrants, complicating firefighting efforts. Interim Yellowstone County Sheriff O’Donnell noted police had no prior contact with Smith or had been called to the residence before this incident.
Charlotte Ghekiere and Landon Ghekiere have raised nearly $95,000 through a GoFundMe campaign as of Friday morning, while Adam Ghekiere’s support effort has garnered almost $130,000.
