Homeowner Charged With Murder After Shooting Intruders

Homeowner Byron Smith, 65, was in his basement when he heard someone breaking into his house. When the intruders came into the basement he shot and killed them both. He is now charged with murder.

The situation caused some stirs because the intruders were 17 and 18 years old.

Nick Bradley, 17, and Haile Kifer, 18, are suspected of breaking into numerous homes throughout Smith's neighborhood. Smith says his own home was burglarized on several occasions. He says he was protecting himself and his property, and had no prior knowledge of the teens identities or plans to break into his home.

This is where it gets tricky. Authorities believe that the murders were premeditated. Byron Smith was arrested and charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder, according to Inquisitr.

The prosecution is saying this:

“He’s down in the basement, in a chair, tucked between two bookcases at the bottom of the stairs. He said he was down there reading a book… with his Mini-14, a.22-caliber revolver, some energy bars and a bottle of water… And he waited.”

While the defense argues this:

“Mr. Smith is the person who shot and killed those two people, but he is not criminally responsible for the deaths. He is not guilty of murder… He became frightened and scared to live in his own home… He began to wear a holster and pistol in his own house. That is how afraid he is, and became.”