Alan Smith, 44, murdered eight family members at a home in Billings, Montana, in the United States. The man set the residence on fire and took his own life, according to police information. Among the victims was Megan Ireland-Ghekiere, Alan's sister, as reported by police.
Before the tragedy, Alan had abruptly left the family home because he was unemployed and broke. He returned weeks later, last Sunday, August 23, and committed the massacre. Kelsey Garland, Megan's best friend, said Alan had shown signs that he could carry out an act of violence.
Kelsey described Alan as "verbally abusive" toward Megan and her children, occasionally. "I know he was verbally abusive toward Megan and her children, occasionally. He wasn't being very kind to the kids when he left," she told the New York Post. Kelsey and Megan were so close that they had matching tattoos and Kelsey was the maid of honor at both of her friend's weddings.
Kelsey said she wasn't certain that Alan's parents had kicked him out of the house, as had been previously reported by the press. Megan Ireland-Ghekiere was the sister of the massacre perpetrator and one of the eight fatalities.
