Heartbroken Montana Father Describes Frantic Calls as Eight Members of His Family Are Killed in Billings Shooting and Fire

A Montana father who lost his wife, children and other relatives in a shooting and house fire in Billings has described the moment he realized something was terribly wrong — while he was working as a rescue firefighter and listening to emergency communications.

Adam Ghekiere was away working at an airshow Sunday evening when reports began coming over the radio about an unfolding emergency near the home of his in-laws. He immediately tried to reach his family.

“I tried calling the house and no one answered. I checked my kids’ locations, both Landon and Charlotte, and no one answered,” Ghekiere said in an interview cited by the New York Post.

By the time he reached the area, authorities were treating it as an active shooting scene and would not allow him closer.

“I feared the worst right then,” he said.

Eight members of the blended family ultimately died, including four children. The violence unfolded during a family gathering at a home on White Star Circle on Billings’ West End.

Eight relatives spanning four generations killed

Emergency services were called to the house to reports of “shots being fired” and an “unconscious child,” with fire crews also scrambled, according to 911 dispatch audio obtained by The Post.

One person was taken away “with a gunshot wound to the head,” the dispatcher said.

Emergency crews arrived shortly after 6:10 p.m. and found a man outside the home, which was already smoking, according to police.

Family members identified those who died as Megan Ghekiere; Landon Ghekiere, 15; Charlotte Ghekiere, 12; Chloe Ireland, 7; Owen Ireland, 13; Megan’s parents, Barb and Dana Smith; and her grandmother, Evelyn Smith, who was in her 90s.

For Adam Ghekiere, the loss reached across virtually every part of his immediate family. Megan was his wife, Landon and Charlotte were his children, and Chloe and Owen were his stepchildren.

The family had gathered at Megan’s parents’ home for dinner Sunday. Evelyn, who had been living at an assisted-living facility in Billings, was also there.

Authorities have described the incident as stemming from a family disturbance rather than a random attack.

A firefighter heard the emergency unfolding while at work

Ghekiere’s account adds another painful dimension to the tragedy.

As an airport rescue firefighter, he was working when he heard emergency traffic indicating that something serious was happening near his in-laws’ home.

Unable to reach anyone inside, he checked the locations of Landon and Charlotte and repeatedly tried to make contact. When he arrived, the danger had not passed and responders kept him away from the property.

Police said the incident began at about 6 p.m. Sunday. Dispatchers could hear gunfire in the background of the emergency call, while smoke was also being reported from the residence. Within minutes, flames were pouring from the house.

Officers arriving at the scene heard additional gunfire, according to authorities. The house was soon engulfed.

A man believed to be responsible was found outside the residence with what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital and later died.

Investigators have continued working through the heavily damaged property as they reconstruct exactly how the events unfolded.

Family says the attack happened during Sunday dinner

Landon Ghekiere, 15, and Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, were among the eight people killed in the Billings massacre.GoFundMe

Additional information released by a family spokesperson to the Associated Press indicates the eight victims had gathered for Sunday dinner when the attack occurred.

The victims represented four generations of one blended family, from 7-year-old Chloe to great-grandmother Evelyn.

Ghekiere said he believed the person responsible was a relative who had been holding a grudge against his parents. He also said he did not believe the attacker expected his children to be at the house.

That account represented Ghekiere’s understanding of the circumstances rather than an official determination of motive. Authorities initially said they had not established a motive publicly, although they confirmed the incident arose from a family disturbance.

Charlotte’s actions during the attack remembered by family

As relatives began sharing details about those who died, one revelation about 12-year-old Charlotte emerged.

Family members said Charlotte was the person who called 911 during the shooting, helping alert emergency responders to what was happening inside the home. Her relatives have described her as a hero for making the call.

Charlotte had been preparing to begin seventh grade. Her family remembered her as funny, precocious and affectionate, with a “heart of gold” and a stubborn streak. She had recently become interested in crocheting and golf.

Her older brother Landon was preparing for his sophomore year at Billings Senior High School.

The 15-year-old enjoyed paddleboarding, had helped launch the wrestling program at his school and was looking forward to getting his driver’s license. Relatives described him as helpful, patient and protective, particularly toward his younger siblings.

Four children lost in the same family

Chloe and Owen, Megan’s children from a previous marriage, were also among those killed.

Chloe was 7 and Owen was 13. Together with Landon and Charlotte, they formed part of the blended family Adam and Megan had built after marrying.

Megan worked for Intermountain Health and was active at Faith Chapel. Relatives said she enjoyed painting and art and shared a love of watching football with Adam.

Megan’s parents, Barb and Dana Smith, and her grandmother Evelyn were also killed, leaving the tragedy spanning four generations of the family.

Community rallies around surviving relatives

As investigators continued processing the scene, friends and relatives began raising money to help surviving family members with funeral costs and other expenses.

Tributes have focused particularly on Landon and Charlotte, remembering not simply the circumstances in which they died but the lives they were preparing to live.

Landon was days away from milestones his family had expected to celebrate. Charlotte was preparing for a new school year and exploring new interests.

Instead, their father was left confronting a loss that began for him with unanswered phone calls while he was working a shift helping protect others.

The investigation into the Billings shooting and fire remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to determine the precise sequence of events and circumstances that led to the deaths.