According to a report by The Associated Press on August 25th, a man in Billings, Montana, killed eight relatives including four children during a family dinner on Sunday (the 23rd), and then committed suicide.
Jennifer Muster, spokesperson for the family, is authorized to disclose details of the incident. She initiated an online fundraising campaign to cover funeral and other related expenses. According to her, the victims belong to this reconstituted family, spanning four generations, with ages ranging from a grandmother in her90s to a 7-year-old girl.
The police said that they arrived at the residence on Sunday night. Just before the house was completely engulfed by fire, they heard gunshots coming from behind the house. The police confirmed that several people were killed at the scene, one of whom died from gunshot wounds inflicted by himself.
Neighbors said that just after 6 p.m. on Sunday, they heard sounds that resembled fireworks. At first, they didn’t pay much attention, until another neighbor called to remind them that there had been a shooting.
He immediately rushed outside and saw a police officer wearing tactical equipment hiding behind a vehicle. Some officers were holding long guns, and black smoke was billowing from the house where the incident occurred.
