Police in Billings responded Sunday evening to a shooting report at a home on White Star Circle and found the house fully engulfed in flames. One person was taken to a hospital, and nearby homes on the block were evacuated while the scene stayed active.
Billings police said officers were able to verify that shots were being fired from inside the residence. Sgt. Jeff Stovall said the fire started at some point during the incident and quickly engulfed the entire home, leaving investigators to work from a scene already consumed by flames.
White Star Circle response after 6 p.m.
Billings police said multiple agencies responded after 6 p.m., including the Billings Police Department, Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Billings Fire Department, and medical personnel. Authorities asked the public to avoid the area as the response expanded around the home in Billings’ West End.
David Hiller, who lives nearby, said the noise and smoke came before the fire fully took over. “We could hear gunshots,” he said. “It was just like black plumes of smoke, and then a full-on fire erupted.”
He also said, “We don't know what happened.” Hiller added, “We think we saw a body out front of the house that looked unresponsive.” Police had not released information about any fatalities as of Sunday night.
Marlon Duke said he saw the smoke and came outside after learning there was an incident nearby. “This is a quiet neighborhood,” he said. “And it’s just kind of shocking to see something like this happen in the neighborhood.” He also said, “It’s just really a sad story, whatever that story is,” as the evacuation continued around him.
Billings Police Department investigation
Police said the investigation could take several days, and the scene remained active Sunday night. For neighbors on White Star Circle, that means the immediate answer is to stay clear of the block while investigators sort out what caused the shots and the fire.
