Investigators Search Burned Montana Home After Eight Family Members Are Killed

The victims included four children from four generations of the same blended family. Investigators now are scouring the heavily damaged property for physical evidence that could help piece together the attack and shed light on what led to the killings. The home was heavily damaged by the fire, making the investigation difficult and time-consuming, authorities said. Sheriff Kent O'Donnell said investigators are still working to answer key questions about the sequence of events and motives.

Police were called Sunday nite to a home in the Billings area for reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, the house was engulfed in flames, and more gunshots were heard from the property. Smith was later identified by authorities as the suspected shooter. Investigators said he killed his grandmother, his parents, his young sister and her children before dying by suicide.

The victims ranged from a 7-year-old child to a grandmother in her 90s. The deaths have devastated the local community and led to memorials being erected near the home. The attack took place while the family was having dinner on Sunday.

Smith had previously lived at the residence and had been asked to move out weeks before the killings, a family spokesperson said. That detail has become a critical piece in investigators' efforts to make sense of what might have preceded the attack.

The house suffered heavy damage from several fires, which is a big hurdle for investigators. Officials have been meticulously sifting through debris and examining what is left of the structure, in an effort to uncover evidence that survived the blaze. Investigators also retrieved personal items from the wreckage, including a family Bible and photo album.

The destruction means investigators will have to reconstruct what happened from a mixture of physical evidence, forensic analysis, witness accounts, and emergency calls. Officials emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, and some answers may not come right away. It also complicates the case that the suspected shooter is dead, and investigators can't question him about what he did or why. Sheriff O'Donnell has said there are still questions surrounding the circumstances of the killings that need to be answered. One of the victims, 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere, called 911 during the attack, reports said. The emergency call was made while the violence was going on. Police arrived later at the residence as the building was on fire and shots continued. Charlotte's actions with relatives and others calling her attempt to get help an effort to protect her family has been of particular interest to the community.

The circumstances of the call are part of the investigation as authorities try to piece together a timeline of the attack.

Investigators are examining emergency communications and other evidence to reconstruct the chain of events from the first call for help until law enforcement arrived.

The motive is one of the major unanswered questions. Authorities have said Smith had previously lived at the residence and been asked to move out, but investigators have not publicly determined that this was the ultimate motive for the killings. Family members have described tensions over Smith's living situation, but investigators are still collecting evidence before drawing any conclusions.

The death of the suspect means that investigators will have to rely on surviving family members, neighbors, emergency communications, forensic evidence and other information to determine his state of mind and the circumstances leading up to the attack. Officials have asked for patience as the investigation continues. The extensive fire damage is likely to make the process especially difficult.

Community Grief, Fire Damage, and an Investigation That May Take a While

The killings have rocked the Billings community where residents have gathered outside the home to leave flowers and pay tribute to the victims. The loss of four generations has been especially devastating for relatives and neighbors. Investigators continued to work on the scene as a memorial was being built near the residence. Community members also have organized support for the surviving family members and funeral expenses. For neighbors, the aftermath was deeply traumatic, with the normally quiet residential area turned into an active crime scene, neighbors said. The investigation has continued as residents and relatives start mourning the victims.

There's been no suggestion from authorities that the investigation is near completion. The investigators must analyze the physical evidence recovered from the burned property, complete the forensic examinations, and create a detailed timeline of the shootings and fires. They also are investigating how the suspect entered the home, what happened during the family gathering, and how the fires were set. The alleged attacker is dead, so investigators can't get a firsthand explanation for the attack. Officials are currently concentrating on evidence that can answer questions in and of itself. Eight members of one family are dead, and a community is searching for answers following the deaths. Investigators are still sifting through what is left of the home. The big questions remain: why did the attack happen, how did it play out and what triggered the violence?