Multiple people were killed, including children, after a madman opened fire at a house in Montana before setting the property ablaze.
Cops were called to the house in Billings just after 6 p.m. Sunday after reports of a shooting and a family disturbance, reported the Billings Gazette.
Officers arrived some 10 minutes later and heard gunfire from the back of the house, according to police.
They saw a man in the backyard of the already-smoking house, and then heard more gunfire.
Just three minutes later, the home was engulfed in flames, severely hampering rescue efforts, according to Billings Police Department Assistant Chief Shawn Mayo.
“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,” Mayo told a news conference Monday.
“Multiple adults and multiple juveniles” died at the house, interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O’Donnell told the same conference, adding that the identities of the victims will not be released for now.
“Because of the fire and obviously water that goes to suppress that fire, it’s going to slow our investigation of the crime scene recovery of evidence. So we ask for patience as we complete this investigation,” he said.
All of the victims perished at the scene, while the suspected killer died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after being taken to a local hospital at around 6:48 p.m., according to authorities.
No motive was publicly available as of Tuesday.
“At this time, we have not released a number nor any names involved, a spokesperson for the Billings Police Department told The Post Tuesday.
“Obviously, with social media rumors spread and unverified information is put out,” they added.
A further press conference is scheduled for Wednesday at which more information will be provided about the victims and the possible motives, police said.
Neither the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office nor the Yellowstone County Coroner’s Office responded immediately to requests for comment.
