The grieving Montana mom of two youngsters who had been amongst eight relations killed in a mass dwelling taking pictures and fireplace as they gathered for Sunday dinner has spoken out about “honoring” her slain children.
Erica Schneider’s organic youngsters, Landon and Charlotte Ghekiere, had been caught up in madman Alan Smith’s rampage when he opened fireplace on his relations on the Billings, Mt., dwelling earlier than setting the property alight and turning the weapon on himself.
The ages of Smith’s victims, a blended household, ranged from 7 to 92.
“To my household, pals, and strangers; thanks for the continued assist you could have given to myself, Danny [her current husband], and [her ex-husband] Adam [Ghekiere],” she wrote on Fb Tuesday, addressing the taking pictures for the primary time.
“We’re past appreciative of you all and hope to have your assist with honoring the lives of Landon, Charlotte, and the Smith household.”
Landon, 15, and Charlotte, 12, had been killed in a “mindless act of violence,” their household mentioned in a fundraiser created for Schneider.
Landon was making ready to begin his senior yr at Billings’ Senior Excessive Faculty and was set to get his driver’s license this week earlier than he was gunned down.
He was described as a “affected person, protecting and loving massive brother,” whereas sister Charlotte, who was set to maneuver into the seventh grade, had an “angelic smile” and a ardour for exploring for bugs.
“These two treasured youngsters go away behind a gap that’s inconceivable to understand, together with a household dealing with unimaginable grief,” they mentioned.
Charlotte Ghekiere “tried to save lots of her household” by calling 911 from inside the house, household good friend Jennifer Mercer mentioned.
“The one factor we do know is that Charlotte was the hero,” she mentioned.
Landon and Charlotte’s stepmom, Megan Ghekiere, her organic youngsters 7-year-old Chloe Eire, and 13-year-old Owen Eire, Alan Smith’s dad and mom, Dana and Barb, and his 92-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Smith, had been additionally recognized as victims.
Megan — Alan Smith’s youthful sister — was killed lower than a yr into her marriage to Adam Ghekiere, having tied the knot in October 2025. It’s not clear when Adam divorced Schneider.
Adam, an airport rescue firefighter, was working when he heard about an incident that was unfolding the place his in-laws lived.
“I attempted calling the home and nobody answered,” he informed the Solar. “I checked my children’ places, each Landon and Charlotte, and nobody answered. I known as Megan’s cellphone too.
“By the point we obtained to the home, they wouldn’t allow us to get any nearer as a result of it was nonetheless beneath an energetic shooter standing. I feared the worst proper then. I don’t suppose the shooter anticipated my children to be there.”
Smith was discovered with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and took his personal life earlier than cops may arrest him
Brad Eire, who’s Chloe and Owen’s father and Smith’s former brother-in-law, has since described the shooter as a “hermit” who spent most of his days alone on a pc.
Smith, who attended Jap Washington College, had been unable to carry down a job and adopted his dad and mom from Seattle to Montana after his sister was the primary to relocate to the state. He spent almost all his time alone in his room, in keeping with Eire.
“Nobody knew what he did in there 24/7,” he mentioned.
He had lived along with his dad and mom at their Billings dwelling earlier than they requested him to maneuver out a number of weeks in the past.
Smith then turned up uninvited and carried out the taking pictures at round 6 p.m. Sunday night time.
With Publish wires.
