'They didn't deserve to die': Outrage after popular students are found murdered in man's basement after 'they robbed his home on Thanksgiving'

Bodies of Haile Kifer, 18, and Nick Brady Schaeffel, 17, found day after they were shot during break-in
Byron Smith, 64, admitted to killing the teens during police search
Minnesota law allows people to use deadly force when protecting their homes - but prosecutors claim he used more than necessary
Smith charged with second-degree murder 'after telling police he shot more times than necessary because Kifer laughed when his gun jammed'

PUBLISHED: 12:39 EST, 26 November 2012 | UPDATED: 19:19 EST, 26 November 2012

Friends and family have expressed their outrage over the deaths of two popular students shot by a homeowner while they robbed his home - as he revealed he fired 'more shots than he needed to'.

The bodies of cousins Haile Kifer, 18, and Nicholas Brady Schaeffel, 17, were found in Byron Smith's basement in Little Falls, Minnesota on Friday - the day after they were shot dead on Thanksgiving.

When police arrived at his home after reports of suspicious activity, Smith, 64, confessed to shooting the teenagers repeatedly and stashing their bodies after they broke into his home, authorities said.

On Monday, he was charged with second-degree murder and police revealed he told them he fired more shots than necessary after his gun jammed and Kifer laughed at him.

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Killed: The bodies of cousins Haile Kifer, 18, (left) and Nicholas Brady, 17, (right) were found stashed in the basement of a man who claimed the teenagers had broken into his home on Thanksgiving

While Minnesota law stipulates people are allowed to use deadly force when defending their homes, relatives, friends, police and prosecutors claimed Smith reacted too drastically by killing them.

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'A person has every right to defend themselves and their homes, even employing deadly force if necessary,' Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel said. 'Circumstances of this case however, led deputies to believe that Smith went beyond that point.'

And as he was charged on Monday, his intentions to shoot the teens dead became clear.

In custody: Byron Smith was arrested after he shot and killed two teens he said broke into his Minnesota home

In custody: Byron Smith was arrested after admitting to police he had killed the teens a day earlier

In a criminal complaint, Smith said he was in the basement of his home when he heard a window breaking and footsteps. Fearful of other recent break-ins, he shot Schaeffel when he came into view.

When the teenager tumbled down the stars, Smith shot him in the face as he lay on the floor, looking up.

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

He dragged the body into his workshop and then sat in the chair, the complaint said. When Kifer began walking down the stairs, he shot her and she fell down the stairs.

He tried to shoot her again with his rifle, but the gun jammed and Kifer laughed at him, the complaint noted.

'If you're trying to shoot somebody and they laugh at you, you go again,' Smith, 64, told investigators, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.

He then shot her several times in the chest with a .22-caliber revolver, dragged her next to her cousin, and with as she gasped 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, and acknowledged he had fired 'more shots than (he) needed to'.

Smith said he left the bodies in his home overnight before calling a neighbor to ask if he knew a good lawyer. He later asked the neighbour to contact police.

Missed: Friends and teacher expressed their shock at deaths and described Haile as a popular role model

Joker: Friends also remembered Brady as an out-going student who loved to make people smile

A prosecutor at Morrison County District Court on Monday morning 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 at the hearing.

Friends have taken to a memorial Facebook page for Kifer and Schaeffel to vent their anger about the deaths. Others spoke out at a vigil for the youngsters on Sunday night.

'They were just really great people,' friend Rachel Stauffer, 15, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 'They could make anyone laugh.'

Carlee Davich, who coached Kifer in swimming at school, added: 'She was always happy. She had a way that just made everyone happy. A lot of the swimmers and divers looked up to her.'

Scene: Smith's home in Little Falls, MN has been burglarized eight times in recent years, his brother said

Pain: Crystal Shaeffel, 27, cries after walking up the driveway of the home of Byron David Smith in Little Falls, Minnesota where her brother Nick Brady was shot and killed on Thursday

Emma Schmidt, a fellow classmate at Little Falls High School, said Kifer was talented and well-liked and 'everyone's wondering' what she was doing in Smith's basement.

Further insight into the lives of the cousins was given by Brady's sister, Crystal Shaeffel, as she visited Smith's home and spoke with his brother.

'They were 17 and 18 years old, and didn't need to die,' she told Bruce Smith.

'That all depends on your perspective,' he responded, referring to a series of break-ins his brother had endured. In one in October, thieves stole $10,000 worth of guns and electronics, he said.

But Shaeffel insisted that her brother had no need to turn to burglary, as he made good money working for their father's tree-trimming business.

She added that her cousin, who had undergone treatment for substance abuse, could have been after pills from the home.

Remembered: At a candle-lit vigil on Sunday, Rachel Brady speaks about her brother Nick to the crowd

'Yes, she had an addiction problem and stuff, but that doesn't mean she deserves to get murdered at 18 years old,' Shaeffel said. 'I understand they came there to rob them, or whatever, but shoot them in the shoulder and call the cops.'

On the Facebook page, friends agreed that the shootings were too severe.

'It doesn't matter what they were or weren't doing there,' Mike Boulley wrote. 'They were KIDS that didn't deserve to die. Defending your property against armed burglars is one thing, gunning down two unarmed teenagers is just inexcusable.'

Logan Ayres added: 'It's hard to see such nice people lose their lives to something that could of been so easily taken care of instead of murder. R.I.P. nick and halie you will be dearly missed.'

Smith, 64, a former government employee who reportedly worked in security for the U.S. State Department, was arrested on Friday and is being held on $2 million bail.

Support: Friends on a memorial Facebook page have asked whether the appropriate force was used

According to his friends, Smith said that he had didn’t go to police immediately after the shooting because he panicked about the deaths.

'He was very traumatized by what had occurred and didn’t know who to call or what to do and that is very sad that the whole thing even happened,' Kathy Lange told KSTP-TV.

His brother, Bruce Smith, said that this was the latest of eight burglaries in recent years.

Byron Smith said that he suspected that the two had been responsible for at least some of those past robberies.

Neighbours told the Star Tribune he kept to himself, but they complained that he regularly shot guns on his property and said they were concerned children playing nearby could be hurt.

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The family is lucky there was anything left to identify. The old man was in the right. Whether it was one shot that killed them or 20 the kids were in the wrong and they paid the price for being idiots.

- Rotkiv Zelev , orlando, United States, 27/11/2012 16:32

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In reading the article you seem to be left with two conclusions. First the guy did go to far in his shooting of the two teenagers. Did he have to right to kill them, yeah I am afraid so. They broke into his home and he had the right to defend it. Had he done just that then he would be justified and there would be no charges. However, he went overboard to the point of an execution style kill on the young lady and that cost him dearly. His waiting may fall under fear but normal reaction would be to call and report the break i and shooting and he failed in that. Her laughing at him after shooting her the first time seems a bit far fetched as I do not think most would react that way unless under some chemical influence. Now to those that are painting the kids as role models. I understand you are grieving but they were breaking into a home (for some unknown reason). This pretty much destroyed their image as any type of role model. There are no winners in this case I am afraid

- Portholus , Warner Robins, 27/11/2012 16:17

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Some of you people are sick and twisted. They broke into a home they deserved jail not a death sentence.

- Jessica Johnson , Columbia City, United States, 27/11/2012 15:50

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I am outraged that this old man will be prosecuted for doing the right thing, if I were him, I would fire shots very quickly toward face and chest and that is why I use semi-auto (pistol, rifle, shotgun) so multiple shots can be fired very quickly, and yet, I will use JHP, because it is more deadly!

- Amy Tran , Newark, United States, 27/11/2012 15:49

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he may have gone a little over the top if someones shooting at you and you laugh i dont like to speculate here but i think drink or drugs are involved here you dont laugh if your normal and being shot at and if your normal and well liked blaa blaa you dont burgle

- jimdog1 , kent, United Kingdom, 27/11/2012 15:49

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Sorry, I don't feel anything for the kids. If they are stupid enough to rob someone they deserve what they get. This guy is old - and that's why he was targetted for robbery. He sold part of his life (by working) to acquire the money to buy the objects they were stealing - so they were stealing part of his life. Considering they were stealing so they could buy drugs, he likely saved the life of someone else in the future that they would have killed during a future crime. The only persn I feel sorry for is him.

- x45caliber , Sweeny_TX, 27/11/2012 15:43

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These kids are getting sympathy because of their looks. They look cute and innocent, but breaking in to someone's house to rob them is inexusable.

- JW424 , Nashville, 27/11/2012 15:41

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Although the headline of this story makes the homeowner look evil at the first glance, he did the right thing. Those two young kids were drug-addicted and they got what they should have anticipated. Committing a crime carries a great risk of being killed. It is also very important to know that a .22 revolover is not sufficient for home defense. A 9mm, 40 S&W; or even a 45ACP would get the job better done. The homeowner wouldn't have had to shoot multiple times if he had deployed a pistol chambered for those above calibers.

- john-ohio , Columbus, United States, 27/11/2012 15:32

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"The didn't have to die" blah blah blah, they also didn't HAVE to rob the old man's house. Yet they did.

- namelessss , Toronto, Canada, 27/11/2012 15:28

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Role model, they make people smile? really? Maybe in the day time but to rob a old man on Thanks giving? Yeah, I would believe they got what they deserved but death isn't something we can decide on as a punishment or price. Beside they made the wrong choice, and sadly got themselves killed, It would had been better if they got wounded but really I don't blame the Old man for shooting, they broke in. No one knows what was going through his head. for all he could be thinking was they could be going to kill him, it was kill or be killed. There are no rules, only choices and sadly three people made the wrong call.

- Ray Swietonowski , newark, United Kingdom, 27/11/2012 15:28

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