News Minnesota man who killed teens in break-in charged with murder - Page 49

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.

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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

TLO · 03-10-2016, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Pronounced "piss-co-path"
Noun - A crazy old bastard with mental issues and who pees himself...alot.

milkman?

Grim · 03-10-2016, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Predarat

He was kind of dumb for admitting the shit he did, he probably could have painted an entire different picture. Dead Home Invaders cannot testify.

There was video and audio recordings of the entire incident.
The video recordings showed the kids casing his house and breaking in. The executions could be heard on the audio recordings.

Probably thought the video would have exonerated him... the audio recordings ended up being the biggest influence on the jurors (according to them).

**Rain Man** · 03-10-2016, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grim

There was video and audio recordings of the entire incident.
The video recordings showed the kids casing his house and breaking in. The executions could be heard on the audio recordings.

Probably thought the video would have exonerated him... the audio recordings ended up being the biggest influence on the jurors (according to them).

Yeah, he was way too honest. He cooked himself. He should have destroyed everything and then just said that he was so terrified that he just started shooting and couldn't stop. If he'd stuck with that story, he'd be sitting at Golden Corral enjoying the chocolate fountain right now.

**LoneWolf** · 03-10-2016, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Did you read the description of what happened? Shot one person in the lower body, then -- after they were down -- pumped a few more shots into their chest, then the capper into their skull?

I think forensics **probably** could have worked out that this guy executed her after she was already down. Maybe if they were armed he could have described something that justified it, but that would be about his only hope.

Did they break into his home? If the answer to this question is "yes", then I don't give a **** what happened to them. This guy could have put their bodies through a meat grinder and served up robber burgers at a neighborhood barbecue and if I was a juror it would have been a hung jury.

A person's home is their sanctuary. A place where they should feel safe. If someone chooses to violate that sanctuary, they deserve whatever happens to them.

frankotank · 03-10-2016, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, he was way too honest. He cooked himself. He should have destroyed everything and then just said that he was so terrified that he just started shooting and couldn't stop. If he'd stuck with that story, he'd be sitting at Golden Corral enjoying the chocolate fountain right now.

they have a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!!!

DJ's left nut · 03-10-2016, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoneWolf

Did they break into his home? If the answer to this question is "yes", then I don't give a **** what happened to them. This guy could have put their bodies through a meat grinder and served up robber burgers at a neighborhood barbecue and if I was a juror it would have been a hung jury.

A person's home is their sanctuary. A place where they should feel safe. If someone chooses to violate that sanctuary, they deserve whatever happens to them.

Then contact your local Congressman.

What you think the law ought be and what the law is are two very different animals.

This man committed homicide by any definition of the term. And by no definition of the term was it done in self-defense. Combine those two facts and you have as textbook a case of straight up murder as there is to be found.

Sully · 03-10-2016, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankotank

they have a CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!!!

Settle down. It's great in theory, til you see Gomer's 5 grandchildren running their booger'd up fingers through it on the way to grab another tiny bowl of peach cobbler.

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
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