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A 12-year-old girl who was among eight family members massacred in a Montana home has been hailed as a hero for bravely calling 911 to try and save her family from the carnage.
Charlotte Ghekiere, 12, raised the alarm Sunday evening when Alan Smith — her stepmom’s “hermit” brother — opened fire on his family that had gathered at the Billings home for dinner. He then torched the property and took his own life.
Charlotte’s dad, Adam Ghekiere, said police told him she was the one who placed the call just after 6 p.m., which prompted cops to swoop on the home minutes later.
“The one thing we do know is that Charlotte was the hero,” family friend Jennifer Mercer added, paying tribute to the schoolgirl.
“Charlotte called 911 and she tried to save her family. And that’s something the family does want out there.”
Charlotte’s 15-year-old brother, Landon, was also killed in the rampage at their step-grandparents’ home, as was their stepmother Megan Ghekiere.
Megan Ghekiere’s biological children from her former marriage, 13-year-old Owen Ireland and Chloe Ireland, 7, were also among the victims, as were her parents, Dana and Barb, and 92-year-old grandmother, Evelyn.
Megan Ghekiere and her ex-husband, Brad Ireland, divorced six years ago and she moved to Montana with their children.
That’s where she met Adam Ghekiere, who was working and not at the home when the massacre unfolded.
“I don’t think he expected my kids to be there,” Adam Ghekiere, who was at work when the shooting happened, said, revealing the family dinner usually takes place on Fridays.
While working at an airshow, Adam Ghekiere heard on the radio that an incident was unfolding near his in-laws’ home.
“I tried calling the house and no one answered. I checked my kids’ locations, both Landon and Charlotte, and no one answered,” he told The Sun.
“By the time we got to the house, they wouldn’t let us get any closer because it was still under an active shooter status. I feared the worst right then.”
The home was engulfed in flames when he arrived and two hours later, he was told the crushing news his wife and children had died.
“I keep hearing her quote to me every time I would say ‘I love you’ and she would say ‘I love you more,'” the heartbroken dad said, recalling a fond memory he and his daughter shared.
The home was completely charred and firefighters were at the scene until 1 a.m. Monday.
Adam Ghekiere claimed the shooter had been harboring a grudge towards his parents before the massacre.
“Monster isn’t enough to describe what he did,” the dad said of Smith, 44.
Cops have not released a motive for the killings – but Ireland, Megan Ghekiere’s ex, mentioned there was tension between Smith and his parents.
Smith had been asked to move out of the home by his parents before returning and carrying out the rampage.
Ireland described Smith as a “hermit” who spent most of his days in his room on his computer.
“No one knew what he did in there 24/7,” he said.
With Post wires
English (US)