US man, 44, asked to move out, returns home & kills 8 family members, burns down house, fatally shoots himself

A 44-year-old American man shot and killed eight of his relatives, including four children, weeks after his parents told him to move out.

According to ABC News, the shooter, Alan Smith, opened fire as the family gathered for Sunday dinner at their home outside Billings, Montana, on Aug. 23, 2026.

Smith killed four generations of his family, including his grandmother, parents, younger sister and his nieces and nephews.

U.S. authorities reached the scene on the evening of the incident and were greeted by the sound of gunshots before the house was engulfed in flames.

Investigators confirmed that Smith had also shot himself and later died.

Fire burned house to its foundation

A spokesperson for the Billings Police Department, Jeff Stovall, said the investigation was complicated by concerns about the house's structural integrity after the fire burned it to its foundation.

Firefighters put out the blaze at around 1am on Aug. 23 (local time), said Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel.

ABC News reported that the home is in an area not required to have fire hydrants, resulting in a delay that allowed the fire to rage through the house.

The four children Smith killed were aged between seven and 15.

A neighbour told ABC News that Smith's 12-year-old niece "was the hero".

"Charlotte called 911 and she tried to save her family."

Family 'very loving and close'

The neighbour said the family was "very loving and close" and said the children all got along and the parents remained amicable even after divorcing.

"I feel like our entire community is devastated, even people that never knew any of them."

ABC News reported that the Smith family were originally from Seattle, Washington, and his sister, Megan, moved to Montana with her children after her divorce.

Megan second husband was working and not at home when the shooting happened.

Smith's parents had also purchased a home near his sister while his grandmother lived in a nearby retirement home.

Smith stayed with his parents for years until he was asked to move out weeks prior to the incident.

According to ABC News, he unexpectedly returned home before killing his family, and tried to flee before being confronted by law enforcement.

'Many red flags'

According to ABC News, Megan's ex-husband said "there were many red flags" and that "no one listened".

Smith, who attended Eastern Washington University, was reportedly a "hermit" who spent most of his time on the computer and was unable to find or hold a job.

Megan's second husband rushed from the airport in Billings, where he worked, after hearing about an active shooting and calling each member of his family.

He said his children were not supposed to be there, as family dinner was usually on Fridays.

He said, "I don’t think he expected my kids to be there," and "monster isn’t even enough to describe what he did”.