Landon & Charlotte Ghekiere and 6 other family members killed in Billings, Montana shooting and house fire with suspect gunman then taking own life. Incident occurred at family’s home at 315 White Star Circle. Incident described as ‘family disturbance’.
Eight members of a Billings family are reportedly among those killed in Sunday’s shooting and house fire, in Billings, Montana, including siblings Landon and Charlotte Ghekiere, according to information shared by family members through online fundraisers.
Leading into the mass shooting, the gunman is reported to have set the home on fire located at 315 White Star Circle, Billings West End, trapping some of the family inside as the home burned to the ground.
Alan Smith, Billings, Montana shooter was asked to move out but refused
Montana police announced today that multiple children and adults were killed in a shooting and fire at a home in the West Billings End yesterday. The male suspect is deceased. pic.twitter.com/eeBWKxL9b2
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) August 24, 2026
Family member kills 8, including 4 kids during Sunday dinner argument
Police arrived just 10 minutes after the shooting began at 6.01pm on Sunday. The house was already being consumed by fire when officers arrived, and additional gunfire was heard from the property, KTVQ reported.
Among the dead were Landon and Charlotte Ghekiere, aged 15 and 12, whose parents Adam Ghekiere and Erica Jarussi Schneider and stepfather Danny were not at the scene, the dailymail reported.
One person survived the attack and was rushed to hospital, but their condition is unknown.
The gunman was found dead near the house with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at 6.48pm, police said. The suspect’s identity had yet to be publicly revealed.
Cops have yet to say how the gunman, is related to the slain family members and what led to the shooter targeting the family home and its occupants.
Familial disturbance leads to 8 Billings, Montana family members dead along with suspect who took their own life
Interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said gunshots were heard in the background of a 911 call and the house was set alight within three minutes.
Due to a lack of fire hydrants in the area, firefighters were forced to haul water using trucks, which further slowed the response, though they were able to prevent the spread of the fire to other homes.
The home was completely consumed by the flames. Nearby properties sustained some minor heat damage, according to officials.
Authorities describe the house fire and shooting as a family disturbance, and that there is no indication it was a random attack.
Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office describing the origins of the shooting as familial, CBS News reported.
‘The initial investigation shows that this event started as a family disturbance and was not a random act of violence where the parties were unknown to each other,’ the office said in a statement, adding, ‘there is no further danger to the public.’
The victims have been identified by police, but their names were not yet been publicly released other than Landon and Charlotte who were named by their family according to online fundraisers (see bottom of article).
A further press conference is scheduled for Wednesday at which more information will be provided about the victims and the possible motives, police said.
Landon & Charlotte Ghekiere and six other family members mourned online
The two children were mourned online by family and friends of their parents.
‘Landon was just 15 years old and preparing to begin his sophomore year at Senior High School,’ they wrote on an online fundraiser.
‘He was a loving, caring young man who was always willing to lend a hand to his family and neighbors.
‘He was looking forward to getting his driver’s license this week and was a patient, protective, and loving big brother.’
Charlotte was just about to start seventh grade when she was killed alongside her brother.
‘Funny, precocious, and adorable – with just the right amount of stubborn – Charlotte had an angelic smile and loved posing for pictures,’ the fundraiser shared.
‘She especially loved exploring the world around her, turning over rocks to look for bugs. Oh, how she loved her bugs!’
Adam Ghekiere is an Airport Rescue Firefighter and was not involved in the shooting, family said.
The events leading up to the shooting and how the house was set on fire are being investigated by the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies.
A GoFundMe has been set up to benefit the victims’ family.
A second GoFundMe has been set up also.
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