New photographs of Alan Smith , the 44-year-old man who killed eight members of his own family in Billings, Montana, have surfaced as friends of the victims describe troubling behaviour they say preceded the massacre. The images were published by the New York Post and quickly went viral online.
The pictures show Smith with members of his family, including his sister Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, who was among those killed in the August 23 attack. Megan’s four children and stepchildren, along with her parents, Barbara, 72, and Dana Smith, 73, and grandma, Evelyn Smith, 92, were among the ones who were killed.
Authorities said that Smith fatally shot eight relatives, set the house ablaze and then died by suicide.
“He didn’t have a job. She added that the family, however, did not believe he was violent despite his behavior. Later that evening, Megan’s husband, Adam, called to say the family home was on fire.
Smith had allegedly left home weeks ago and returned to the family’s 4,000-square-foot home before committing the murder-suicide, according to Yellowstone County authorities.
Granger said that he left the family home in late July without telling relatives where he was going. He had no income as far as I know,” Granger told the NYP. Recalling the night of the tragedy, Granger said that Megan had contacted her hours before the shooting to discuss plans for Christmas and seeing The Nutcracker.
