News Minnesota man who killed teens in break-in charged with murder - Page 44

NIUhuskies · 11-27-2012, 04:56 PM

wow, this sounds pretty messed up... Cant tell if his guy is nuts or if these kids were on drugs

By NBC News staff and wire services

A 64-year-old Minnesota man was charged Monday with murder for killing two teenagers who he said broke into his Little Falls home, shooting them in the head, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

AP file

Byron David Smith was arrested after he told police he shot and killed two teenagers who he said were breaking into his home on Thanksgiving Day.

"If you're trying to shoot somebody and they laugh at you, you go again," Byron David Smith of Little Falls told investigators, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

Smith was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nicholas Brady, 17, both of Little Falls. The teens were shot on Thanksgiving Day, but their deaths weren't reported until Friday.
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Brady has also used the name Schaeffel, which is his mother’s maiden name, at times for family reasons, according to the sheriff's office.

In the criminal complaint, Smith said he was in the basement of his remote home about 10 miles southwest of Little Falls when he heard a window breaking upstairs, followed by footsteps that eventually approached the basement stairwell. Fearful after several break-ins, according to the complaint, Smith said he fired when Brady came into view from the waist down.

After the teen fell down the stairs, Smith said he shot him in the face as he lay on the floor.

"I want him dead," the complaint quoted Smith telling an investigator.

Smith said he dragged Brady's body into his basement workshop, then sat back down on his chair, and after a few minutes Kifer began coming down the stairs. He said he shot her as soon as her hips appeared, and she fell down the steps.

Smith said he tried to shoot her again with his Mini 14 rifle, but that the gun jammed and Kifer laughed at him.

"Smith stated that it was not a very long laugh because she was already hurting," according to the complaint.

Smith said he then shot Kifer in the chest several times with a .22-caliber revolver, dragged her next to Brady, and with her still gasping for air, fired a shot under her chin "up into the cranium."

"Smith described it as 'a good clean finishing shot,'" according to the compliant, but also that he acknowledged he had fired "more shots than (he) needed to."

The following day he asked a neighbor to recommend a good lawyer, according to the complaint. He later asked his neighbor to call the police.

A prosecutor called Smith's reaction "appalling."

"Mr. Smith intentionally killed two teenagers in his home in a matter that goes well beyond self-defense," Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf said after Smith appeared at Morrison County District Court on Monday morning. Bail was set at $2 million.

Follow @NBCNewsUS

Minnesota law allows a homeowner to use deadly force on an intruder if a reasonable person would fear they're in danger of harm. Smith told investigators he was afraid the intruders might have a weapon.

Smith's actions "sound like an execution" rather than legitimate self-defense, said David Pecchia, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. Pecchia said his statements to investigators suggest he had eliminated any threat to his safety by wounding the cousins.

Smith's brother, Bruce Smith, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that the incident was the eighth burglary at Byron Smith's home in recent years.

The only report the Morrison County sheriff's office has for a break-in at the home was for one on Oct. 27. It shows Byron Smith reported losing cash and gold coins worth $9,200, plus two guns worth $200 each, photo equipment worth more than $3,000 and a ring worth $300.

Little Falls is about 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

Brady's sister, Crystal Schaeffel, told the Star Tribune that Kifer had broken into her home before. Little Falls police records show Crystal Schaeffel reported a theft Aug. 28, but the department said the report was not public because that investigation was continuing and because it named juveniles.

Tessa Ruth, an aunt of Brady, attended Smith's hearing. She told the Star Tribune she wished the man had fired a warning shot or alerted the police instead of shooting the teens.

"It wasn't right for them to be there and, yes, he had a right to defend himself. But to execute them like that..."

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...th-murder?lite

WhawhaWhat · 06-05-2014, 11:27 AM

When I get older I am going to setup traps in my garage with a sign that says "Free Candy". Then when all these little 6 and 7 year olds come wandering into my garage trying to steal my free candy, I can blow them away with a shotgun or lasers because kids are scary. Something to do on the weekends during retirement.

**notorious** · 06-05-2014, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

When I get older I am going to setup traps in my garage with a sign that says "Free Candy". Then when all these little 6 and 7 year olds come wandering into my garage trying to steal my free candy, I can blow them away with a shotgun or lasers because kids are scary. Something to do on the weekends during retirement.

6 & 7 year olds = Dangerous Criminals

Sounds right.

Just Passin' By · 06-05-2014, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

When I get older I am going to setup traps in my garage with a sign that says "Free Candy". Then when all these little 6 and 7 year olds come wandering into my garage trying to steal my free candy, I can blow them away with a shotgun or lasers because kids are scary. Something to do on the weekends during retirement.

The sign makes the kids invitees. Good thinking. You might as well make it clear that you want the death penalty for yourself, and that will do it.

WhawhaWhat · 06-05-2014, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

6 & 7 year olds = Dangerous Criminals

Sounds right.

7-year-old Nabbed on Felony BB Gun Charges

**notorious** · 06-05-2014, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

7-year-old Nabbed on Felony BB Gun Charges

And his parents said he'd shoot his eye out.

WhawhaWhat · 06-05-2014, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

The sign makes the kids invitees. Good thinking. You might as well make it clear that you want the death penalty for yourself, and that will do it.

The "Free Candy" sign is for me so I can find it later. It's not for those free loaders.

crazycoffey · 06-05-2014, 11:40 AM

Hyperbole burst

**hometeam** · 06-05-2014, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katipan

I think I'd take the jump towards surveillance, a security system, or a big fluffy Rottweiler. A valuable house doesn't do you much good if you can't put stuff in it.

Even if you make the logical jump to owning a gun and defending your property. You can't be there all the time. It's going to take you catching someone at the right time and killing them in the right manner.

You're supposed to go home and relax. Run around naked. Not strap an M16 to your back and dig out a fox hole.

That puts an end to home invasion right there.

Doesn't even have to be a Rottweiler. Just has to be a dog with a deep bark. Problem solved.

mcan · 06-05-2014, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

And bottom line; kids are still alive if they don't break into a house

Well, if you want to gloss over the differences between sadism and home defense, then sure.

crazycoffey · 06-05-2014, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcan

Well, if you want to gloss over the differences between sadism and home defense, then sure.

Not trying to gloss anything. Don't break into somebody's home and this isnt a discussion.

**alnorth** · 06-05-2014, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazycoffey

I disagree, it's setting equal value on human life despite an unequal situation. It's saying to homeowners "be extra careful how you protect yourself, because people who weren't there, second guessing your actions are going to be critical of them. And the law will make shooting someone in defense of yourself or your home the same as shooting someone in he street", and it's not, nor should it be in my opinion.

This will give more protection to home invaders breaking in to your house. A sense of it to them when deciding to commit the act, it's fluffy feel good shit and **** them for breaking in to the old mans house even if he had a ****ing sign on his door, "come take my shit, I'm not home". When the first shot rang out, the second little criminal should've left.

Bullcrap. The law is very clear in most states. If you need to defend yourself, then you can. We do not need a blanket "hey if he breaks into your house, anything goes, you can even torture them if you want, whatever, its their fault for breaking in" rule.

All this guy needed to do is not be an evil, sadistic, murdering piece of crap.

**alnorth** · 06-05-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pestilence

So hypothetical situation......

You live in a rougher neighborhood and your house has been repeatedly broken into multiple times when you aren't home. I'm talking more than 5 times and it's not like you're leaving shit unprotected or leaving your door unlocked. After the 5th time of having to replace all of your shit.....you decide that you've had enough. What is the correct course of action? Call the cops who won't do anything because they can't? Try and sell your house and move....possibly taking a huge loss on the value of your house? Or take matters into your own hands?

I have home insurance. I'm not going to go down into my garage because I don't know if he has a gun. I'm going to grab my gun, try to stay away from the intruder, and call the cops.

displacedinMN · 02-18-2015, 07:30 PM

No surprise here-he is still should be in jail

MINNEAPOLIS - The man convicted of killing two teenagers inside his home in Little Falls is appealing his life sentence to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The two cousins were unarmed when they allegedly broke into his house on Thanksgiving Day 2012.

Smith returned to court in Little Falls in August for a restitution hearing and testified for the first time and argued against paying restitution to the victims' families.

had to use google to find the thread

bsroyals54 · 02-18-2015, 10:10 PM

if the kids were black there would be an uproar from the black community

**TimBone** · 02-19-2015, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsroyals54

if the kids were black there would be an uproar from the black community

Sorry, I just don't see how that is a relative comment to this thread.

11-27-2012, 04:56 PM
NIUhuskies Veteran Join Date: May 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Casino cash: $8425050	Minnesota man who killed teens in break-in charged with murder wow, this sounds pretty messed up... Cant tell if his guy is nuts or if these kids were on drugs By NBC News staff and wire services A 64-year-old Minnesota man was charged Monday with murder for killing two teenagers who he said broke into his Little Falls home, shooting them in the head, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. AP file Byron David Smith was arrested after he told police he shot and killed two teenagers who he said were breaking into his home on Thanksgiving Day. "If you're trying to shoot somebody and they laugh at you, you go again," Byron David Smith of Little Falls told investigators, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday. Smith was charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Haile Kifer, 18, and her cousin, Nicholas Brady, 17, both of Little Falls. The teens were shot on Thanksgiving Day, but their deaths weren't reported until Friday. Advertise \| AdChoices Brady has also used the name Schaeffel, which is his mother’s maiden name, at times for family reasons, according to the sheriff's office. In the criminal complaint, Smith said he was in the basement of his remote home about 10 miles southwest of Little Falls when he heard a window breaking upstairs, followed by footsteps that eventually approached the basement stairwell. Fearful after several break-ins, according to the complaint, Smith said he fired when Brady came into view from the waist down. After the teen fell down the stairs, Smith said he shot him in the face as he lay on the floor. "I want him dead," the complaint quoted Smith telling an investigator. Smith said he dragged Brady's body into his basement workshop, then sat back down on his chair, and after a few minutes Kifer began coming down the stairs. He said he shot her as soon as her hips appeared, and she fell down the steps. Smith said he tried to shoot her again with his Mini 14 rifle, but that the gun jammed and Kifer laughed at him. "Smith stated that it was not a very long laugh because she was already hurting," according to the complaint. Smith said he then shot Kifer in the chest several times with a .22-caliber revolver, dragged her next to Brady, and with her still gasping for air, fired a shot under her chin "up into the cranium." "Smith described it as 'a good clean finishing shot,'" according to the compliant, but also that he acknowledged he had fired "more shots than (he) needed to." The following day he asked a neighbor to recommend a good lawyer, according to the complaint. He later asked his neighbor to call the police. A prosecutor called Smith's reaction "appalling." "Mr. Smith intentionally killed two teenagers in his home in a matter that goes well beyond self-defense," Morrison County Attorney Brian Middendorf said after Smith appeared at Morrison County District Court on Monday morning. Bail was set at $2 million. Follow @NBCNewsUS Minnesota law allows a homeowner to use deadly force on an intruder if a reasonable person would fear they're in danger of harm. Smith told investigators he was afraid the intruders might have a weapon. Smith's actions "sound like an execution" rather than legitimate self-defense, said David Pecchia, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association. Pecchia said his statements to investigators suggest he had eliminated any threat to his safety by wounding the cousins. Smith's brother, Bruce Smith, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that the incident was the eighth burglary at Byron Smith's home in recent years. The only report the Morrison County sheriff's office has for a break-in at the home was for one on Oct. 27. It shows Byron Smith reported losing cash and gold coins worth $9,200, plus two guns worth $200 each, photo equipment worth more than $3,000 and a ring worth $300. Little Falls is about 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Brady's sister, Crystal Schaeffel, told the Star Tribune that Kifer had broken into her home before. Little Falls police records show Crystal Schaeffel reported a theft Aug. 28, but the department said the report was not public because that investigation was continuing and because it named juveniles. Tessa Ruth, an aunt of Brady, attended Smith's hearing. She told the Star Tribune she wished the man had fired a warning shot or alerted the police instead of shooting the teens. "It wasn't right for them to be there and, yes, he had a right to defend himself. But to execute them like that..." http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...th-murder?lite
Posts: 1,036

06-05-2014, 11:27 AM	#646
WhawhaWhat MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Casino cash: $1601116	When I get older I am going to setup traps in my garage with a sign that says "Free Candy". Then when all these little 6 and 7 year olds come wandering into my garage trying to steal my free candy, I can blow them away with a shotgun or lasers because kids are scary. Something to do on the weekends during retirement.
Posts: 17,217

06-05-2014, 11:40 AM	#652
crazycoffey .......... Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $5207901	Hyperbole burst
Posts: 28,330

02-18-2015, 07:30 PM	#658
displacedinMN It was not a fair catch Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Correcting papers Casino cash: $2962630	No surprise here-he is still should be in jail MINNEAPOLIS - The man convicted of killing two teenagers inside his home in Little Falls is appealing his life sentence to the Minnesota Supreme Court. The two cousins were unarmed when they allegedly broke into his house on Thanksgiving Day 2012. Smith returned to court in Little Falls in August for a restitution hearing and testified for the first time and argued against paying restitution to the victims' families. had to use google to find the thread __________________ #investigatecarlcheffers
Posts: 36,264

02-18-2015, 10:10 PM	#659
bsroyals54 Devil's Advocate Join Date: May 2014 Casino cash: $9951971	if the kids were black there would be an uproar from the black community
Posts: 8,679