movieguru

http://www.twincities.com/localnews/...t-killed-teens

Somewhat the opposite of the Martin/Zimmerman case.

In this case they're white, and actually going on a crime spree of breaking and entering and burglary. Also they are shot in the homeowners house, rather than being chased throughout the neighborhood.

If it were black teens, the homeowner likely would not have been charged. They broke into his house 3 separate times. The last time he was in his basement and shot them when they came down the stays towards him.

He may have gone a little too far by shooting them a second time; however he could have no idea if there were more intruders in the house and leaving them alive could have made him vulnerable if they weren't already critically injured.

SuperJim88

What isn't in this article but is in other is that after several burglaries, the homeowner installed video cameras through out his house. With those footage and sound captured, it shows pretty clearly that he wasn't fearing for his life. He wanted those two teens to die and it a pretty horrific way. You don't say shit like, "a good, clean finishing shot" or "you got what you deserved" if you're defending your life. He's going away for the rest of his natural life.

movieguru

He went overboard by making cheesy action movie dialog as he was defending himself and describing it to the police. But, that does not mean he wasn't in fear of his life. He would have no way of knowing if they were armed when they came down the stairs. If I were in his shoes, I would have shot them too. I wouldn't have dragged them to another area to shoot them again. I would have left them on the stairs as it would be an obstacle for any other possible intruder trying to come down the stairs.

yoshimi

If I was on the jury he would be going home.

DVD Polizei

I think if somebody trespasses on another's property and enters their home...the homeowner can do whatever they want.

yoshimi

You break into someone's house they should have the right to tie you to a chair and use jumper cables, a blow torch a pliers on you, IMO.

Giantrobo

^^Good thing you're not on the jury.

I heard about this today and I'm having a hard time with it. I get that his home had been robbed 2 or 3 times by this kid, but the way he handle it is what may send him to prison.

I mean he shot the kid in the face...AFTER he had already shot him. And, he put a 22 under the girl's jaw to make sure she was dead....yeah, i'm not sure he was in any real danger.

movieguru

I can't see how this can be premeditated. How can you plan for someone else you've never met before to rob you so you can kill them?

Why So Blu?

Cuz he already had a surveillance system in place. He shot the first kid and then waited for his friend to come for him. He saw her walk down the steps before he shot her. Not only that, he blew her head off while she was incapacitated on the floor.

He was extremely methodical about it AND the fact that he waited almost a day before he called authorities doesn't help.

DVD Polizei

I'd imagine we'd have much less break-ins and burglaries if the word got out a person was not subject to play by the rules if an unauthorized person broke into their home and was not under obligation to fear for their life...in order to take another life.

DVD Polizei

He did wait a day, but that wouldn't be premeditation. I'd say that was a reaction to killing two people. It's not like he skipped town and didn't call authorities at all.

Being prepared for future break-ins doesn't mean you're guilty of a premeditated killing.

Ringmaster

Every person has the right to defend themselves but it sounds like he went overboard. People who are angry and take their frustrations out with their firearms should have their rights to bare arms taken away. Before anyone complains about my comments, I'm a firearm owner and I sell them for a living.

movieguru

Yes, but "premeditated" means you planned the murder well in advance. Putting in surveilance devices after you've been robbed does not imply premeditated murder. Neither does owning a gun long before you were even robbed. Again, they came to him. He didn't actively go seek these thieves out and try to kill them. Only after they committed another felony and broke into his house a third time did he kill them.

Why So Blu?

No, I'm saying he calculated the second shooting by laying there in wait for the girl to walk down into the basement. He shot her walking down, saw that she was not getting back up, and finished her off with a bullet to the brain.

If he would have called police right after he shot the first kid then there would be no issue. Almost a day. And he recorded it too! They're going to use the surveillance footage to prosecute him.

DVD Polizei

I'm still going to comment, regardless of your firearm ownership.

So, now we're in the business of telling homeowner's how to respond to burglars? I'd agree with you 100% if this guy was on a public street, but this was his home. The Home is where I draw the line. Even in your car in a public street I will side with more prudence with a weapon, but a person's home is where people need to learn to not fuck around.

Why So Blu?

And I'm not saying I would not have shot intruders myself. But lets say I shoot someone and they're winged or clipped I don't think I'm going to hover over their wounded body and shoot them in the face or empty my clip. If they die from my initial shots then that's different.

There's an "after the fact" component here that they're addressing.

Why So Blu?

And here's even more clarification on how the girl was killed - looks like she took more damage than the boy did:

When another teen began descending the stairway minutes later, Byron Smith fired again. The girl tumbled down the stairs and he shot her some more, including what he allegedly called "a good, clean finishing shot" into her head as she gasped for air, according to a criminal complaint.

She was shot at least once walking down the stairs, fell and tumbled down, and looks like he kept firing at her as she came tumbling down. Then he walks over to her and plants a bullet in her forehead.

I think he got her with the first shot, though.

movieguru

What was he supposed to do? Stand there in plain view and give her a chance to kill him if she was armed? Or put his life at risk and walk up the stairs and possibly run into armed intruders?

Lt Ripley

He using a silencer or something or was this chick part of the 2 percentile group?

Sean O'Hara

I'm gonna go with "yes" here. You only have the right to defend your home from an actual threat. You don't get to kill a burglar who's raised his hands in surrender, is trying to escape, or is already incapacitated.

Hell, if the guy were a soldier and he did this in a battle, it'd be a war crime.

mhg83

They had already broken into his home 3 times! If he just injured them and lived, probably wouldn't serve time as they have gotten away before, they come back and kill him for revenge? He wanted to put an end to this shit. Good for him. No sympathy when you are a repeat burglar.

Why So Blu?

Wow, the fascism is strong in this thread. Nevermind the FEMALE got it worst than the guy after the fact. Once someone is incapacitated or dead you don't keep on firing bullets into them.

Seriously - mind blown by some of you.

DaveyJoe

Wholesome white kids? This guy is going away forever.

Why So Blu?

Wow. Yep, this dude is toast regardless of what the fascists think.

Lt Ripley

I think they are retarded for going for premeditated 1st degree. This guy gets off on that charge. The defense lawyer is licking his lips.