Slain girl hailed as hero after 8 relatives killed in Montana home: "She tried to save her family"

Key Points:

• A shooting and fire at a family home outside Billings, Montana, resulted in eight deaths, including four children, after 44-year-old Alan Smith opened fire and set the house ablaze before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
• The victims spanned four generations of the blended family, including Smith's parents, grandmother, sister, and the children of his ex-wife Megan Ghekiere and her current husband, Adam Ghekiere.
• Charlotte Ghekiere, a 12-year-old victim, is being hailed as a hero for calling 911 during the attack and attempting to save her family.
• Authorities faced challenges investigating due to the house being destroyed by fire, and firefighters were delayed in fighting the blaze because the subdivision lacked fire hydrants and the scene needed to be secured first.
• The shooting is the 22nd mass killing in the U.S. this year, with domestic disputes accounting for a majority, highlighting ongoing concerns about family-related violence.