THE heartbroken dad of four children killed in a sickening Sunday dinner rampage has told The U.S. Sun the gunman was a member of his own family.
At least eight people died on Sunday night after a man opened fire inside a Billings, Montana, home and the residence was later engulfed in flames, authorities said.
Adam Ghekiere’s two children with his ex-wife – Landon, 15, and 12-year-old Charlotte – both tragically perished.
His current wife Megan and his stepchildren – Owen, 13, and Chloe, 7 – also died alongside a 92-year-old wheelchair-bound woman who was their great-grandparent.
Two other family members were also killed by the gunman, who The U.S. Sun is chosing not to name at Ghekiere’s request.
The shooter torched the property after opening fire on those inside and then killed himself, the grieving dad said, adding that the massacre was sparked by the gunman’s grudge towards his own parents.
Ghekiere is an airport rescue firefighter who was working at the time of the shooting and said his kids wouldn’t have normally visited their grandparents on a Sunday evening.
He was at an airshow and when he heard on the Fire department communications system there was an unfolding incident in the area where his wife’s parents lived, he instantly feared the worst.
“I tried calling the house and no one answered,” he told The U.S Sun during an emotional interview.
“I checked my kids’ locations, both Landon and Charlotte, and no one answered. I called Megan’s cellphone too.
“By the time we got to the house, they wouldn’t let us get any closer because it was still under an active shooter status. I feared the worst right then.”
The violence was reported shortly after 6pm Sunday, when a 911 caller reported an active shooting at the home, according to Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell.
Gunfire could be heard during the call.
Officers arrived about 10 minutes later and encountered a man in the backyard as additional gunshots were heard and smoke poured from the residence, according to the Billings Gazette.
“I don’t think the shooter expected my kids to be there,” Ghekiere continued.
The man, who authorities identified as the suspected shooter, was taken to a local hospital at about 6.48pm. with what police described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
He later died.
Authorities said the incident began as a family disturbance. They have not disclosed the suspect’s relationship to all of the victims or identified a motive.
Police said all of the victims have been identified, although their names had not been publicly released.
Fundraising campaigns established for the family identified two of the victims as Landon Ghekiere and Charlotte Ghekiere
A GoFundMe campaign for Ghekiere said he lost his wife, children and other family members in the incident.
Further fundraising efforts identified Landon and Charlotte as victims along with Owen and Chloe.
It told how 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 willing to help his family and neighbors.
Charlotte was described as funny, outgoing and affectionate, with an “angelic smile” and a love of having her picture taken.
Authorities said investigators could need several days to determine exactly what happened inside the home.
Officials also cautioned that entering the burned structure too soon could compromise evidence or put investigators at risk.
The fire presented significant challenges for first responders. The home became fully engulfed shortly after police arrived, and officials said there was no fire hydrant in the subdivision.
“When the fire was observed in the structure, fire suppression efforts took priority as the fire blocked any reasonable attempt to rescue or recover victims,” Billings Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Mayo said at a news conference.
Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel said firefighters faced additional difficulties because they could not immediately determine whether the scene was secure.
“Because the scene could not be immediately confirmed as secured, our firefighters were unable to operate as we normally would,” Hoppel said.
He said the delay and restricted access created significant challenges as fire conditions deteriorated and the residence was eventually destroyed.
Neighbor Dave Hiller told KTVQ that he heard several gunshots before seeing the home catch fire.
“You could hear a couple gunshots going off,” Hiller said. He then looked outside and saw the house, about three homes away, on fire.
Smoke was pouring from the residence, he said, adding that the home was one where he regularly saw the family outside.
The cause of the fire and the circumstances that led to the shooting remain under investigation.
Police were called to reports of “shots being fired” and an “unconscious child” as fire crews also responded to a Montana home where at least eight people, including multiple children, were killed in a shooting and house fire, according to 911 dispatch audio heard by The U.S. Sun
“We have a situation going on with shots being fired,” exclaimed a Yellowstone County 911 dispatcher.
He said a fire engine was “staged in the area” and requested another engine respond to the Billings home shortly after 6pm.
“There is also going to be an unconscious child inside of the home,” the dispatcher said. Another voice asked whether the child had suffered any gunshot wounds.
“Unconfirmed at this time. Just noted that it was unconscious,” the dispatcher responded, adding that she did not know whether the child was breathing.
Source: https://www.the-sun.com/news/16895921/montanta-killing-adam-ghekiere-charlotte-landon/