At least 8 killed, including children, in shootout at Montana home before suspect burns property to the ground
Eight members of the same family including at least two children have been killed by a gunman who opened fire on their house.
The house in Billings, Montana, was then set on fire – trapping some of the family inside as it burned to the ground.
Police arrived just 10 minutes after the shooting began at 6.01pm on Monday, but it was already too late to save the family.
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.
Eight members of the same family including two young teenagers have been killed by a gunman who opened fire on their house. Pictured is Adam Ghekiere with his family including his son and daughter who died
The house in Billings, Montana , was then set on fire – trapping some of the family inside as it burned to the ground
Aerial photographs taken after the blaze was extinguished on Sunday show that very little remains of the residence
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.
How the gunman was related to the family is unclear.
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.
The victims have been identified by police, but their names were not yet released other than Landon and Charlotte who were named by their family.
Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel said responding firefighters were hampered by there not being any fire hydrants in the area.
Among the dead were Landon and Charlotte Ghekiere, aged 15 and 12
Landon was just 15 years old and preparing to begin his sophomore year of high school
‘The delay and limited access presented significant challenges. Fire conditions continued to worsen, and the residence ultimately became heavily involved and was consumed by fire,’ he said.
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.
Landon and Charlotte with their parents in a photo shared by other family members
‘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!’
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.
