Multiple children, adults dead in shooting, fire on Billings West End Sunday night

Multiple children and multiple adults were killed during a shooting and house fire Sunday night on Billings' West End, according to officials at a multiagency press conference Monday afternoon.

“Today’s press conference is on the heels of a tragedy for a Billings family and the community as a whole,” Billings Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Mayo told reporters and the public. “I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the victims' family.”

Names and the exact number of victims weren’t shared during the press conference, as law enforcement begins what they expect will be a complex investigation that has been further complicated by a fire. Law enforcement disclosed that all parties are dead after the Sunday night incident, including a male suspect.

The property was owned by Dana C. Smith and Barbara A. Smith, according to property records listed on Montana Cadastral. It was purchased in 2020.

Police expect to provide an update Wednesday afternoon with more specifics.

Mayo reported that 911 dispatch reported an active shooting at 315 White Star Circle at 6:01 p.m. Gunfire was heard on the 911 calls, Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell said.

In response to a question from the press, O’Donnell said the incident started out as a family disturbance. Biographical details weren’t provided to avoid interference with the investigation.

“When the call went out last night for assistance, the cavalry was coming,” O’Donnell said.

Several law enforcement agencies responded Sunday evening, including BPD, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Billings Fire Department and police agencies from Carbon and Stillwater counties.

By 6:12 p.m., the first officer was on the scene.

As law enforcement approached, they saw a male in the backyard of an already smoking house and then heard more gunfire. He was transported to the hospital at 6:48 p.m. after police located him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He later died there.

Shortly after the initial response, the house became fully absorbed in flames, Mayo said.

“When the fire was observed in the structure, fire suppression efforts took priority as the fire blocked any reasonable attempt to rescue or recover victims,” he said.

The origin of the fire wasn’t disclosed. The ongoing investigation has been complicated by the house being totaled in the burn. Nearby houses were largely untouched.

Extinguishing the fire was a challenge for the fire department, as there were no fire hydrants in the subdivision, Billings Fire Department Chief Matt Hoppel said. Water trucks were brought in to assist. He called it a very complex and dangerous incident for his crew.

“Because the scene could not be immediately confirmed as secured, our firefighters were unable to operate as we normally would,” Hoppel said.

Troops had to coordinate closely with law enforcement and balance the need for fire prevention and safety of responders, the fire chief said.

“The delay and limited access presented significant challenges,” Hoppel said. “Fire conditions continued to worsen, and the residence ultimately became heavily involved and was consumed by fire.”

Like the police, Hoppel thanked all the agencies for assisting in the fire and recognized the impact it could have on them. The fire department is providing mental support and assistance in the coming days to its workers.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office will be leading the investigation. O’Donnell said their primary concern is to make the scene safe structurally to further collect evidence.

Everyone in the neighborhood has since been allowed to return to their homes, as there is no ongoing threat to the public. The public is advised to avoid the area as the investigation continues. 

The dead end street where the shooting took place was still cordoned off Monday afternoon, as was connecting street Onyx Boulevard at the subdivision surrounded by farmland. 

Despite advice from the police to avoid the area, multiple vehicles were seen heading down down to the blocked-off White Star Circle only to do a U-turn at the dead end and leave the isolated subdivision.