LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A Morrison County man has been arrested after he told police he shot and killed two teenagers who were allegedly breaking into his home on Thanksgiving Day.
The sheriff's department says police visited his home near Little Falls on Friday afternoon. Officers say 64-year-old Byron David Smith immediately confessed to killing two people the previous day about noon.
Deputies found the bodies of an 18-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy in his basement.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says a preliminary investigation led authorities to arrest Smith for second-degree murder.
Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel says people have every right to defend themselves and their homes, but circumstances suggest Smith went beyond that point.
Smith is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Monday afternoon.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
Comments (18)
Add commentmmmmmmm....
mmmmmmmmm.......
The fact he killed them the
The fact he killed them the day prior without notifying anyone certainly makes you question the notion of self-defense.
I would call 911 first
I just don't understand,if he had a gun or rifle couldn't he warn them first? To wait the next day? If they were intruders why didn't he call 911. Yes he could have been in shock, but 911 should have been called before he shot them and definately after.
Sounds like they were two
Sounds like they were two typical high school students.....a girl from Little Falls and a boy from Pillager. It will be interesting to learn why they were in his house and what led him to feel threatened and in need of killing both of them.
:/
I use to ride the bus everyday and see them getting picked up and dropped off.. this really scared me hearing about this
More questions than answers at this point
It's tough to say who's at fault at this point. How did those kids end up inside the guy's house? To me that's the biggest question that needs to be answered. If they did indeed break-in then I really can't fault Smith for his actions (except for the fact that he failed to call authorities immediately after shots were fired).
I'm just
Curious as to why we can comment on this???
IMOHO the police blotter would be more fun people. This is NOT a good thing!!!
Agreed...
This story shouldn't be open for comment...
My guess
would be that the "suspicious activity in the neighborhood" was reported by the kids in the pickup vehicle when the others didn't show up.
Viewpoints
We all need to pray for the teens and the man accused of this crime.
This type of tragedy seems to be playing out more frequently in our society.
We need Jesus now more than ever!
way too much
I guess the news isn't saying it yet but 6 shots were fired on them. That is unnecessary. No there was no "pick up car" their families were worried sick about them. It wasn't the middle of the night it was about noon on Thanksgiving. No they shouldn't have been there but they were just kids.
Star
The Star and Tribune gives a bigger story of what went on. Smith calling his brother, drugs, car parked on the road...
Excessive? Yeah. Pull a gun after that many break-ins? Yeah. 6 shots fired? A bit much!
In Concealed Carry classes
they teach "if you have to shoot at all, shoot until the perp stops moving or the threat is gone or you're out of bullets". Who was present that can say it was a bit much or not?
that's the problem fnb. The
that's the problem fnb. The two dead kids can't talk. We have only the story of the shooter to go by.
I agree
shadrack.
"Sounds like they were two
"Sounds like they were two typical high school students.....a girl from Little Falls and a boy from Pillager. It will be interesting to learn why they were in his house and what led him to feel threatened and in need of killing both of them."
...Yeah, who decided to commit burglary. Oh yeah, and she had a little prescription drug abuse issue...but other than that, they were just 'typical high school students'.
Here's a little reality check for the armchair quarterbacks who suggest that he 'should have called 911 instead of shooting them' - under the BEST circumstances, at least where I live, it's 20 minutes before police are at your door. And guess what? They don't just come storming in to save you just because you're still inside. I'm sorry, but I'm not waiting that long to figure out what your intentions are. I don't care why you are in my house, you are not supposed to be. I am going to shoot you and I am going to shoot to STOP you, not "wing" you.
This man, a productive and law-abiding member of society, was minding his own business and leading an apparently otherwise peaceful life until these two people made a very bad decision and turned it upside down.
Personally, I think the only reason he should be charged with anything is if they determine that they never actually broke in in the first place.