A family gathering in Billings, Montana, ended in unimaginable tragedy after a gunman killed eight relatives, including four children, before the home was engulfed in flames.

Authorities said the incident began as a family disturbance Sunday evening. Police responding to an active-shooter call heard gunfire coming from the home, while smoke was already spreading through the property. Four adults and four children were ultimately confirmed among the dead.

The victims reportedly belonged to four generations of the same blended family, ranging from a great-grandmother in her 90s to a 7-year-old girl. The children included 15-year-old Landon and 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere.

The suspected gunman was identified by a family member as 44-year-old Alan Smith. According to the family, Smith had recently been asked to leave the home by his parents. Investigators have said the attack was not a random act of violence and that the people involved were known to one another.

The situation became even more devastating when the house caught fire. Police officers arriving at the scene encountered continued gunfire, preventing firefighters from immediately entering the property. The blaze eventually consumed the home, making the recovery and investigation even more difficult.

The suspected shooter was later found outside the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and died after being taken to a hospital. Authorities are still investigating what led to the killings and what caused the fire.

For the surviving family members, the horror became painfully personal.

Adam Ghekiere, the father of Landon and Charlotte, was working as a rescue firefighter at an airshow when he learned that an emergency was unfolding near his in-laws’ home. He tried calling his children, but neither answered.

By the time he reached the area, police had blocked everyone from approaching because the scene was still considered an active threat. He later learned that his wife, children and other relatives were among those who had been killed.

Landon was remembered by loved ones as a caring and protective older brother, while Charlotte was described as funny, bright and full of personality. Their community is now raising funds to help the surviving family members deal with the devastating loss.

Eight lives. Four generations. One family gathering that ended in unimaginable heartbreak.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are expected to release more information as they continue piecing together what happened that night.

Course: NY Post