NEWTOWN, Conn. – A shooter killed eight of their relatives, including four children and a 92-year-old great grandmother, at a Sunday family dinner in Billings, Montana this weekend – in a shocking and senseless act of violence that was preceded by warning signs.
The 44-year-old suspect, a family member of a multi-generational family, had been previously asked to move out of the home. But instead, they returned unexpectedly during a dinner gathering and opened fire. According to reports, a 12-year-old female victim called 911 to try to rescue their family. The youngest victim was just seven years old.
The house was set on fire after the attack and burned to its foundations. The suspect apparently tried to flee from law enforcement but died by suicide.
Family members of the victims have publicly stated there were “many red flags and many people spoke out, but no one listened.” The suspect reportedly had been spending much of their time alone in their room on their computer, and had also been formerly verbally abusive, although no records exist of any arrests for violent behavior. Reports also state the shooter had difficulty finding and holding a job.
Chronic social isolation is one of the key warning signs of violence. Additionally, major life stressors – like unemployment and relocation – are common among almost all mass shooters.
This is the only mass shooting incident in Montana this year in which four or more people were injured or killed according to the Gun Violence Archive. Firearms remain the second-leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in Montana, and the state has one of the highest overall gun death rates in the nation, according to the latest CDC data.
Nationwide, the majority of kids who die in mass shootings are killed by family members, according to Stanford Medicine.
In response to this attack, Mark Barden, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“This horrific attack impacted four generations from one family. Eight lives stolen at a Sunday family dinner. Four children – the youngest just seven years old – and a great-grandmother in her 90s. It’s completely senseless. I am heartbroken and furious. This tragedy could have been prevented.
“Reports state that people saw the signs of a crisis growing. The perpetrator exhibited chronic social isolation, verbal abuse, and was experiencing recent major life stressors – well-documented indicators of potential violence. Yet, as the victims’ family tragically stated, ‘no one listened.’
“A 12-year-old victim called 911 to save her family. Her heroism stands in stark contrast to the utter cowardice of her murderer, and the systemic failure that allowed an individual in crisis to carry out this horrific massacre. We cannot keep asking 12-year-olds to be heroes while adults with the power to act ignore the warning signs.
“When people exhibit warning signs, those who observe those warning signs must have access to effective mechanisms to intervene, such as temporary transfer orders, crisis intervention teams, and community response systems that take threat reports seriously. Montana currently lacks these protections, as do many other states. Effective prevention requires the knowledge, skills, and structures to act on warning signs.
“We grieve with the surviving family, their loved ones, and the entire Billings community. But grief is not enough. We demand law enforcement and community leaders work together to define and support more pathways to stop threats when people raise the alarm. We must take collective action before another family is destroyed.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279