Investigators sift for evidence at burned Montana home where 8 family members were killed at dinner

Billings, Montana (AP) — As investigators sift through the ruins of a burned home, they seek evidence to understand the tragic events that claimed the lives of eight family members during a Sunday dinner gathering. Alan Smith, 44, allegedly killed his grandmother, parents, younger sister and her two children before taking his own life with a gunshot wound after police arrived.

The crime occurred in a suburban home on the outskirts of Billings, where Smith had previously been asked to leave. The victims were Owen and Chloe Ireland, along with their stepsiblings Landon and Charlotte Ghekiere. Smith's parents, Dana and Barb Smith, were also victims. The family had lived in the Billings area for some time, originally from Seattle.

The attack unfolded after Smith arrived at the home at 5:49 p.m. Sunday, followed by a 911 call from one of the females in the home around 6 p.m. Police confronted Smith, who then retreated inside before returning and shooting himself. The home quickly became engulfed in flames. Autopsies are ongoing, and investigators have found weapons at the scene, though details on the type of gun or guns used remain unclear.

The sheriff mentioned that while some reasons for the shooting are known, law enforcement is currently focused on the crime scene. Brad Ireland, father of Owen and Chloe, expressed that Smith was a "hermit" who spent much of his time on the computer and that there were numerous "red flags" but no one listened. The community has come together, with a makeshift memorial appearing in the neighborhood featuring teddy bears, family photos, flowers, balloons, and a notebook for messages.