Multiple Victims, Including Children, Killed in Billings Shooting and Fire

Multiple adults and juveniles were killed Sunday evening in a shooting and subsequent house fire at a residence in the 300 block of White Star Circle in Billings, Montana's West End neighborhood, according to NBC News. The gunman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Billings police and Yellowstone County sheriff's deputies were dispatched at 6:01 p.m. after receiving a 911 call with gunshots audible during the call, per NBC reporting. Officers and deputies reached the scene in roughly 10 minutes and heard gunfire from the back of the residence at that point, NBC News reports. Three minutes later, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

Interim Yellowstone County Sheriff Kent O'Donnell stated that "multiple adults and multiple juveniles" died at the residence, according to NBC News. The dead have been identified, but their names, number, and ages will not be released at this time, per NBC reporting. The sheriff confirmed that all victims targeted in the shooting were killed, according to CBS News.

The Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office characterized the incident as a family disturbance, per CBS News. In a statement, the office said: "The initial investigation shows that this event started as a family disturbance and was not a random act of violence where the parties were unknown to each other." The perpetrator knew the individuals he targeted, CBS News reports. The sheriff's office stated there is no further danger to the public.

Police and deputies took cover behind patrol SUVs on the street near the home as a small tactical team behind a handheld shield moved toward the structure, per NBC reporting. Billings Fire Chief Matt Hoppel stated: "The delay in limited access presented significant challenges, fire conditions continued to worsen, and the residents ultimately became consumed by fire," according to NBC News. Firefighters may have faced water access issues and fewer fire hydrants than ideal, NBC reports. The origin of the blaze remains under investigation.

Billings Police Sergeant Jeff Stovall said: "There are details we simply cannot release at this time" to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, per NBC News. Investigators were expected to continue collecting evidence for multiple days, and members of the public were asked to avoid the scene, according to CBS News.