Landon Ghekiere, a 15-year-old male, was remembered as a patient, protective, and loving older brother who was always ready to help his family and neighbors. A sophomore at Senior High School in Billings, Montana, Landon was eagerly looking forward to getting his driver's license the week he was killed. His father, Adam Ghekiere, recalled that Landon, like any teenager, loved to challenge him, and they had fun with it every time.
Their last conversation ended with a simple "I love you" exchange.
On the evening of Sunday, August 23, 2026, Landon and his 12-year-old sister, Charlotte Ghekiere, were at a family dinner at the home of their paternal grandparents, Dana and Barb Smith, on White Star Circle. The children weren't normally there on a Sunday, as family dinners were usually on Fridays. Also present were Landon's stepmother, Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, 39; his stepsiblings, Owen Ireland, 13, and Chloe Ireland, 7; and his great-grandmother, Evelyn Smith, 92. The gathering turned tragic when Megan's brother, 44-year-old Alan Michael Smith, arrived. Smith had recently been asked to move out of his parents' home and returned that evening, opening fire on his family.
The Billings Police Department received a 911 call from 12-year-old Charlotte from inside the house, reporting the shooting. During the call, dispatchers could hear gunfire. When officers arrived at the residence minutes later, they saw Smith in the front yard before he retreated inside. More gunshots were heard, and then Smith emerged into the backyard and shot himself. As this unfolded, a fire broke out and quickly consumed the house, burning it to its foundation. Firefighting efforts were delayed because the scene was not immediately secure.
The investigation was handled by the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Billings Police and Fire Departments. Investigators confirmed that eight family members, spanning four generations, were killed in the attack. The victims were Landon, his sister Charlotte, his stepmother Megan, his stepsiblings Owen and Chloe, his grandparents Dana and Barb Smith, and his great-grandmother Evelyn Smith. The perpetrator, Alan Smith, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and was not included among the eight victims. The case was classified as a mass killing and murder-suicide, with the primary suspect deceased.
The community of Billings was left devastated by the loss. In the days following the tragedy, a makeshift memorial of teddy bears and photos was set up outside the burned home. On August 27, over a thousand people gathered at Veterans Park for a candlelight vigil to honor the eight victims. Large photos of each family member were displayed on a stage as friends and relatives shared memories. Multiple GoFundMe campaigns were created by friends to help the surviving family members, including one for Landon and Charlotte's mother, Erica Jarussi Schneider, and another for their father, Adam Ghekiere, an airport rescue firefighter who was at work when he heard the dispatch call for the shooting near his in-laws' home.
Landon's father later said, "This monster destroyed my world." He remembered his son as a kid you'd want to brag about, full of life, love, and happiness. The case is considered closed as the sole suspect died at the scene. As of August 2026, the family and the Billings community were navigating their profound grief, supported by an outpouring of love and financial assistance from friends and strangers alike.
