Billings mayor: Family killing 'first in my lifetime' as community mourns eight victims

The mayor of Billings, Montana, has described the killing of eight members of a family as an unprecedented tragedy for the city, saying he has never witnessed anything like it in his lifetime.

Mike Nelson, who was born and raised in Billings, said the incident has shaken the community of roughly 200,000 people. "I don't remember anything like this," he said, adding that while shock has given way to deep sadness and anger, the city's strength will carry it through.

Authorities say a 44-year-old man, identified by a family member as Alan Smith, opened fire on relatives gathered for a Sunday dinner before setting the house on fire. The suspect's parents had reportedly asked him to move out weeks earlier, but he returned on Sunday. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The victims spanned four generations of a blended family, from a great-grandmother in her 90s who used a wheelchair to a 7-year-old girl. A neighbor and family friend, Jennifer Mercer, who set up an online fundraiser for funeral costs, confirmed the ages and relationships.

Police responded to the home on Sunday evening and heard gunshots from the back of the property just before the house was engulfed in flames. Investigators confirmed Tuesday that all eight victims, including four children, died in the attack.

Nelson described the family as loving and said they had been together for dinner that night. "This is a thing that shouldn't have happened to any family," he said. "I just can't imagine the anguish that this is causing for the people that survived it."

A memorial with family photos, balloons, and candles has been set up outside the home as the community begins to grieve.