Dad reveals final words of 12-year-old who called 911 during Montana family massacre
BILLINGS, MONTANA: Adam Ghekiere had spent years responding to other people’s emergencies, but while working as an airport rescue firefighter at an airshow on Sunday, August 23, the emergency alert about a fire in Billings, Montana became terrifyingly personal.
Reports of an active shooter and fire were coming from near his current wife Megan’s family home. Ghekiere tried to determine where his children with his ex-wife, 15-year-old Landon and 12-year-old Charlotte, were. By the end of the night, eight members of the family and four children were dead.
Speaking to MEAWW, Ghekiere shared the final ordinary moments he spent with Charlotte and Landon, including their last words to him.
Dad recalls final moments with Landon and Charlotte
Ghekiere remembered Landon as a teenager who was “full of life” and loved playfully challenging his father.
“Landon and Charlotte were the kids that you want to brag about. They were full of life, love and happiness,” Ghekiere told MEAWW. “Landon was becoming a teenager and loved to challenge me at any chance he had and we had fun with it every time.”
Their final conversation ended with a simple exchange between father and son. “My last conversation with Landon ended in telling him I loved him, and he said love you, Dad.”
Ghekiere’s last interaction with Charlotte was at the airshow. “Charlotte, I hugged her at the airshow before I had to go back to work, told her I loved her, and she said love you more,” he recalled.
‘Charlotte was a hero’: Dad remembers daughter’s final act
Ghekiere told MEAWW that Charlotte had a “heart of gold and loved to see the goodness in others. “She loved everyone and always found the good in everyone,” he said.
When the shooting unfolded, Charlotte called 911 for help, an act her father now remembers as one of extraordinary courage.
“Charlotte was a hero because, in the face of danger, she did the only thing she knew what to do, and that was to call 911 before she died tragically,” he told us.
The 12-year-old was among the four children and eight members of the family killed in the attack. Authorities said the 911 call reported an active shooting at the home, with dispatchers also being told about an unconscious child inside.
The suspected shooter, a relative of the victims, later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and subsequent house fire.
'This monster destroyed my world': Grief-stricken dad says
The shooting abruptly changed Ghekiere’s life, taking his current wife, children and other members of his family.
“This monster destroyed my world and other families' worlds,” he said.
On Sunday, the family had gathered for their weekly dinner when the suspected shooter allegedly showed up unannounced and opened fire at around 6 pm.
The shooter killed his own parents, Dana and Barbara Smith; his 92-year-old grandmother, Evelyn Smith; his sister Megan and Ghekiere’s stepchildren, Owen, 13, and Chloe, 7, before setting the home on fire.
Reports have indicated that a family dispute may have preceded the attack. The family has requested that the suspected shooter’s identity not be disclosed.
No playbook for grief
As the family mourns the loss of the young children, fundraising campaigns have been set up to help with funeral expenses and support the survivors.
Separate fundraiser campaigns have been created in memory of Landon and Charlotte and Owen and Chloe.
Investigators continue to work to establish the circumstances and motive behind the killings.
Amid the grief, Gherkiere told MEAWW that the messages of support from friends, community members and strangers have provided comfort as the family tries to navigate the devastating loss.
“We appreciate all the love, prayers and support that we’ve been getting. It’s been amazing to get random messages from people just showing their support because there’s no playbook on how to deal with this. That’s why I want to thank everyone,” Gherkiere said.
