The heartbreaking final moments of a 12-year-old girl’s desperate attempt to save her family, as recalled by her father, have left everyone devastated
A HEROIC 12-year-old girl made a desperate attempt to halt a sickening massacre by calling 911 as a gunman opened fire during a Sunday dinner.
Brave Charlotte Ghekiere was among eight members of an extended family killed at a home outside Billings, Montana last weekend.
Charlotte Ghekiere tried to alert cops as a gunman attacked her brother Landon and the rest of her familyCredit: AP
The crazed gunman set the house on fire after murdering eight peopleCredit: AP
Her father, Adam Ghekiere, later learned that his daughter called emergency services from inside the burning house which was torched by the gunman in a desperate attempt to conceal his murderous acts.
“Charlotte was the hero that dialed 911,” family friend Jennifer Mercer told The U.S. Sun. “She tried to save her family.”
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Ghekiere broke his silence on the horrific incident on Tuesday which has rocked a tight-knit community and destroyed his blended family.
The airport firefighter’s two children with his ex-wife, Erica — 15-year-old Landon and his 12-year-old sister Charlotte — both tragically lost their lives.
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His current wife, Megan, her parents, Dana and Barb, his two stepchildren, Owen, 13, and 7-year-old Chloe, were also killed, along with their 92-year-old wheelchair-bound great-grandparent.
Ghekiere told The U.S. Sun that he never wants to utter the killer’s name in public.
But The Associated Press identified him as Alan Smith, 44, who was Megan’s brother.
“He was like a hermit,” Ghekiere said. “Megan’s parents wanted him to move out a few times but he just kept on sticking around.
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“It got to the point where his mom didn’t enjoy living in her own house with how he was acting towards them.”
Reclusive Smith returned unexpectedly Sunday evening as his relatives gathered for their regular family meal.
The family usually met at Megan’s parents’ house on Fridays, but with Ghekiere working and another kid at a sleepover, they decided to switch to Sunday.
Ghekiere claims Smith was supposed to be staying with another family member out of town after falling out with his parents when they told him to leave the house.
“They went home, confronted Alan, and Alan got all mad because he was in the middle of moving out,” he recalled. “So Alan actually moved out.
“I said we should put an AirTag to track him so at least you know where your son is so you don’t have to worry about him.
“So up until about last week, we thought he was out of state because he said, “you know, I’m going somewhere warmer.”
“I asked Barb, ‘do you know where Alan is?’ And she says, ‘Well, we think he’s here in town because we got a letter from public assistance addressed to him.’”
BILLINGS VICTIMS
Great-Grandmother
Evelyn Smith
Mother of Dana Smith
Grandparents
Dana Smith
Barb Smith
Parents
Megan Ghekiere
Children / Grandchildren
Landon Ghekiere (15)
Charlotte Ghekiere (12)
Owen Ireland (13)
Chloe Ireland (7)
Perpetrator
Alan Smith (44)
Son of Dana & Barb; brother to Megan (Died by suicide)
The dad heard the nightmare unfold over the city dispatch communication system, and quickly realized the active incident was near his in-laws’ home.
Smith killed his grandmother, his parents, his younger sister and the four children before setting the house on fire.
He then attempted to flee but was confronted by law enforcement and suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He later died.
“I tried calling the house and no one answered,” Ghekiere told The U.S. Sun. “I checked my kids’ locations, both Landon and Charlotte, and no one answered. I called Megan’s cellphone too.”
Owen Ireland was just 13-years-oldCredit: AP
Chloe Ireland, 7, was at the family dinner with her mom Megan who was also killedCredit: AP
He raced to the property, but emergency crews prevented him from getting close because the situation was still considered an active-shooter scene.
The flames, he recalled, were visible from a mile away.
“I feared the worst right then,” he said.
When Ghekiere arrived, smoke was pouring from the home and the building soon became fully engulfed in flames. About two hours later, he learned that his wife and children had been killed.
“I don’t think the shooter expected my kids to be there,” he said. “Monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did.”
The violence was reported shortly after 6pm, when a 911 caller reported an active shooting at the property. Gunfire could be heard during the call.
Dispatchers also received a report of an unconscious child inside the home.
Officers arrived roughly 10 minutes after the initial call and encountered a man outside as additional gunshots were heard and smoke poured from the residence.
Charlotte’s desperate call is one of the most heartbreaking details to emerge from the investigation.
She was remembered by friends in the aftermath of the tragedy as funny, outgoing and affectionate, with an “angelic smile” and a love of having her picture taken.
Her brother Landon was preparing to begin his sophomore year of high school and was looking forward to getting his driver’s license.
He was described as caring, protective and always willing to help his family and neighbors.
GoFundMe fundraising efforts for the children and Ghekiere have already raised a combined total of over $195,000.
“The community outreach of this town has been amazing,” he said. “Overwhelmingly amazing.”
The shooting was followed by a devastating fire that destroyed the home to its foundation.
Police said officers heard gunshots coming from the rear of the property shortly before the residence became engulfed in flames.
Firefighters faced major obstacles because the subdivision was outside city limits and did not have fire hydrants.
Crucially, authorities initially could not confirm that the scene was secure, meaning firefighters had to wait before tackling the blaze which reportedly raged until 1am Monday morning.
The family had roots in the Seattle area before relocating to Montana.
After Ireland and Megan divorced six years ago, Megan moved to Montana with their children and later married Ghekiere.
Her parents, Dana and Barb Smith, followed her and bought a home near their daughter.
Reclusive Smith had lived with his parents for years before they asked him to leave.
“He would just hide in his room,” claimed Ghekiere.
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Per AP, criminal records in Montana and Washington found no record of Smith previously being arrested or charged with a crime.
