BILLINGS, MONTANA — New details are emerging from the devastating Montana family shooting that left eight relatives dead, including four children, as investigators continue searching the burned remains of the home for answers.

At the center of the heartbreaking new details is 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere, who family friends say called 911 while the attack was unfolding inside the home.

Her final actions have led relatives and members of the community to remember her as a hero who tried to get help for her family during the violence.

📞 Charlotte Called 911 as the Attack Unfolded
According to family friend Jennifer Mercer, Charlotte was the person who made the emergency call shortly after 6 p.m. Sunday.

The call alerted authorities to the crisis inside the house.

When officers arrived, they could hear gunfire and saw smoke coming from the property.

Mercer said Charlotte’s decision to call 911 was an attempt to save her family.

That detail has become one of the most powerful parts of the investigation as relatives try to remember the children who died.

💔 Eight Relatives Were Killed
Authorities confirmed that eight members of the extended family died in the attack.

The victims included 92-year-old Evelyn Smith, 73-year-old Dana Smith, 72-year-old Barbara Smith, 39-year-old Megan Ghekiere, 15-year-old Landon Ghekiere, 13-year-old Owen Ireland, 12-year-old Charlotte Ghekiere and 7-year-old Chloe Ireland.

The victims represented four generations of a blended family.

The youngest victim was only 7 years old.

The oldest was 92 and used a wheelchair.

🔥 The Home Was Destroyed After the Shooting
Police say Alan Michael Smith, 44, opened fire before multiple fires were set inside the residence.

When the first officers arrived, Smith ran back into the house.

Officers heard more gunshots and observed smoke.

Smith later went into the backyard, where authorities said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The house was eventually consumed by flames and burned to its foundation.

The destruction has made the physical investigation considerably more difficult.

🔎 Investigators Are Now Sifting Through the Ruins
On Wednesday, investigators were still working through the charred remains of the property, examining debris for evidence that could help reconstruct the attack.

Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said the investigation would likely produce many unanswered questions.

He acknowledged that some questions may never be answered because the people who might have provided those answers are among the dead.

Authorities are examining weapons and other evidence recovered from the scene while autopsies continue.

👤 Smith Had Been Asked to Leave the Home
A key part of the emerging timeline concerns Smith’s living arrangements.

According to surviving relatives, Smith had lived with his parents for years but had been asked to move out a few weeks before the shooting.

He nevertheless returned to the home Sunday evening while the family was gathering for its regular dinner.

Relatives have identified that dispute as an important part of the circumstances being examined, although authorities have not announced a definitive motive.

🚩 Relatives Say There Had Been Warning Signs
Brad Ireland, the father of Owen and Chloe, told The Associated Press that Smith was largely isolated and spent much of his time alone.

Ireland said there had been “many red flags” and that people had raised concerns before the massacre.

However, Yellowstone County authorities said police had no previous calls or known contact with Smith at the home.

Officials are now examining whether the concerns described by relatives could help explain how the violence escalated.

🕯️ Four Children Were Among the Victims
The loss of four children has been particularly devastating for the surviving family members.

Owen Ireland, 13, was remembered by his father as a protective older brother.

Landon Ghekiere, 15, had reportedly been looking forward to getting his driver’s license.

Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, was known for her love of nature and insects.

Chloe Ireland, 7, was the youngest victim.

Their deaths have left families and friends struggling to understand how a Sunday family gathering could turn into a mass killing.

💔 A Father Arrived Too Late
Charlotte and Landon were the children of Adam Ghekiere, who was working at Billings airport when the shooting occurred.

He reportedly heard emergency radio traffic about an active shooting and immediately began contacting family members.

When he reached the neighborhood, the home was already burning.

He later learned that his wife and children were among the victims.

He described the person responsible as a “monster” and said his children were not normally expected to be at the family dinner that night.

📸 A Family Memorial Is Growing Nearby
As investigators continue working at the site, neighbors have created a makeshift memorial near the family’s mailboxes.

Flowers, balloons, teddy bears, family photographs and handwritten messages have been placed there.

The memorial reflects how widely the tragedy has affected the local community.

Billings Mayor Mike Nelson said the loss had created grief and anger throughout the city and surrounding area.

🧩 The Motive Is Still Not Fully Explained
Investigators believe they have some indication of what may have led to the violence, but they have not publicly disclosed a confirmed motive.

The request that Smith leave his parents’ home is one known factor.

Still, officials have not said that the dispute alone explains the killings.

Sheriff O’Donnell emphasized that investigators are concentrating first on reconstructing the crime scene and establishing the facts.

📋 The Investigation Now Faces a Difficult Task
Because Smith also died, authorities cannot question him about the events.

That leaves investigators relying heavily on:

911 calls, witness accounts, surviving physical evidence, firearms evidence and the remains of the burned property.

Some evidence was destroyed or damaged by the fire.

That could make it difficult to establish exactly what happened inside the home during the shooting.

🌹 Charlotte’s Final Act Has Become Part of Her Legacy
Amid the overwhelming grief, Charlotte’s 911 call has given the family one lasting memory.

According to Mercer, the 12-year-old recognized that something terrible was happening and reached out for emergency assistance.

She could not stop the attack.

But she tried to bring help.

That is why those close to the family have chosen to remember her not only as a child who was killed, but as someone who tried to protect the people around her in the final moments of her life.

What Comes Next
Investigators remain at the scene as they continue searching the destroyed house and examining evidence.

Autopsies were still underway as of Wednesday, and authorities had not publicly released all findings.

The investigation is also expected to examine Smith’s movements before the shooting, his relationship with family members and the circumstances surrounding his return to the home.

Officials have said there is no continuing threat to the public, since the suspected shooter is dead.

But for the families of the eight victims, the investigation is only part of what comes next.

They must now bury four children, four adults and try to understand a tragedy that unfolded inside their own family.

Charlotte Ghekiere was only 12, but when her family needed help, she reached for the phone. Her 911 call may be one of the final things she did — and it is now the act by which many people will remember her.

Sources: CBS News — Slain girl hailed as hero after 8 relatives killed in Montana home