Minnesota man kills two teen burglars

[Rippleman]

they shouldnt of broken into his house then ...

So if someone broke into YOUR house and you found out later who it was, would you go shoot them in the head?

(as tempting as it sounds you have to see some extremism there)

[*RedBull*]

Honestly, I wouldn't let the two live either. when someone breaks into your home you can always expect that they would not let you live. I would not have shot them at close range and then make a stupid statement. The guy deserves to go to jail for being stupid. I have no sympathy for the two. They got what they deserved.

Yeah I shoot to kill not wound.

[Original Poster]

So if someone broke into YOUR house and you found out later who it was, would you go shoot them in the head?

(as tempting as it sounds you have to see some extremism there)

I do see what you mean ... but from what I understand they never managed to leave the house and I still think it was within the heat of the moment ...plus if anyone broke into my house and I found out who it was ... they would wish that they were dead ..... but your right I wouldnt kill them

[Chicane-UK Veteran]

This definitely crossed the line to murder, no doubt about it.

I support being able to defend your home.. no doubt.. but seriously a wounding is all it takes to incapacitate them. To hold a gun to their head and 'finish them off' is sickening. This guy will spend the rest of his life in jail and deservedly so.

[MikeChipshop Member]

Wow someone got tipped over the edge.

Protecting yourself and your home is fine, 'finishing off' the intruders execution style is pretty damn bad.

[Coagulated]

Yeah, he's screwed. The execution style of this is beyond self-defense as most people have pointed out. Personally, I have no issue with anyone being killed for attempted burglary, as long as you are defending yourself or your home. I would happily wrap a steel bar around a burglar(s) cranium, but only enough to incapacitate said burglar(s), and if that means manslaughter, that's what it is.

One thing is for sure; I'd definitely not let any burglar get away. I wouldn't kill them (unlike a British Farmer a few years ago who shot two burglars as they were fleeing - think he killed one and crippled another with a shotgun, was it?), but I'd definitely give chase and be sat on the back of their head until Police showed up.

[Calum Veteran]

I have to agree here.. This guy went to far.. if someone was in my house and I felt threaten and shot them to a point they couldn't walk or no longer a threat, I would just call the cops and let them pick them up..

This definitely crossed the line to murder, no doubt about it.

I support being able to defend your home.. no doubt.. but seriously a wounding is all it takes to incapacitate them. To hold a gun to their head and 'finish them off' is sickening. This guy will spend the rest of his life in jail and deservedly so.

[And anyone else who shared similar views]

I'm not definitely condoning allowing people to execute criminals (although, it may be fine in such a case, considering the criminals chose to intrude on the victim's property and they chose to harm or even ruin his or her life), as I don't yet know what is right in this regard, but it's important we consider all points and all sides: If these criminals weren't put down, they would remain alive, so there would always be that fear that they may come back for revenge. These people have already attempted to harm the victim once or even ruin their life, so if the victim hurts them in self-defence (especially in such a painful/disfiguring manner), it's likely they could try to harm the victim again or even worse. Hasn't the victim already suffered enough by having to experience someone breaking into their home, their feeling of security being compromised, possibly being threatened with their life, probably feeling as if they may end up dead etc, for us to then force them to spend the rest of their life fearing the criminals enacting revenge?

[Calum Veteran]

[. . .]

Honestly, the lesson depends on the person. If I felt threatened and in fear for my life or my family's lives, you would bet I would attempt to shoot to kill. Assuming I had shot someone, saw the person was unarmed and clearly in no position to threaten me, I'd get the police. Whatever happens, and whether or not this guy faces charges, I wouldn't want to be him. He'll probably have to find a different place of residence

The problem with that view is that they will always be in a position to threaten you. Always. You may incapacitate them today or stop them from what they're doing today, but there's always another day for them to come back (with weapons or more people) with revenge in mind. Even if they go to prison for however many years, they will definitely be allowed out again at some point (probably quite soon after the crime), and having to spend time in prison might even make them more likely to want to enact revenge.

[Ambroos]

I'd just let them take whatever. Killing people, in my opinion, is never the answer. Let the police and the insurance handle it.

[fusi0n]

It looked like to me it was just two kids goofing off.. which they should not have been doing.. but I don't think these two where career criminals.. If you someone breaks into someone elses house and gets shot, and dies.. then so be it.. but to have shot them, and do one last "clean shot".. it had to get close enough to them to do this so his life was no longer at risk..

So people that break laws.. we just need to kill them all?.. No.. don't think so

[briangw]

This has been a pretty big story up here. Talk radio has said that the one female burglar laughed at him after getting shot, so he took it personally and finished her off under the chin. That in itself was one reason why he finished her off. Of course, knowing this country, if the two weren't killed they might have sued him....

[fusi0n]

. Of course, knowing this country, if the two weren't killed they might have sued him....

Very sad, but very true

[fusi0n]

From the movie, Lair Lair..

Mr. Reede. Several years ago, a friend had a burglar on her roof.

He fell through the skylight, landed on a butcher's knife, cutting his leg.

The burglar sued my friend. He sued my friend!

Because of guys like you, he won!

My friend had to pay the burglar $6,000. Is that justice?

No. I'd have got him ten.

Good-bye, Mr. Reede.

[KingCracker]

Such a lovely photo of two scum bags. Sure he shouldn't have gone that far but they shouldn't ha ve broke in either. Probably looking for prescription drugs. When you break into someones house you risk losing your life, dont want to be potentionally shot? Don't break in. Sometimes the doors are locked for other reasons like protecing you from me. If you break in there will be a 12ga waiting on the other side..

Now as far as him pretty much executing them, thats to far, once he had them under his control he should of called the police, also i'd tell them that if they make any sudden movenents they will be shot.

[Spartan Erik]

The problem with that view is that they will always be in a position to threaten you. Always. You may incapacitate them today or stop them from what they're doing today, but there's always another day for them to come back (with weapons or more people) with revenge in mind. Even if they go to prison for however many years, they will definitely be allowed out again at some point (probably quite soon after the crime), and having to spend time in prison might even make them more likely to want to enact revenge.

While I see that logic, you could also consider the opposite. Robbers got shot, they know not to rob you while you're home because you're packing. They'll just burgle you while you're away instead :p

Such a lovely photo of two scum bags. Sure he shouldn't have gone that far but they shouldn't ha ve broke in either. Probably looking for prescription drugs. When you break into someones house you risk losing your life, dont want to be potentionally shot? Don't break in. Sometimes the doors are locked for other reasons like protecing you from me. If you break in there will be a 12ga waiting on the other side..

Now as far as him pretty much executing them, thats to far, once he had them under his control he should of called the police, also i'd tell them that if they make any sudden movenents they will be shot.

Quick to jump to conclusions about their motive.. we'll just have to wait for official police reports. Other than that, I generally agree with what you've said

[FlintyV]

He seems like a level headed person...

Hopefully gets sentenced for a pretty long time.

[TrevorLahey]

He's done society a favor... Good riddance. Hopefully other burglars will look at this and think twice about robbing somebody.

[excalpius]

Well, if someone decides to break into my house, and I notice they are there, I DO have a license to kill them, contrary to what you believe. He should have just kept his mouth shut.

Forensics would have determined that the girl was executed after she was no longer a threat.

I will answer it for him, YES IT DOES. YOU decide to pretty much do wtf you feel like doing to someone else, YOU should be able to take whatever punishment is handed to you, be it being tortured or cut limb from limb. Your ****ing rights ended when you decided to try to harm or STEAL something from someone else.

Not according to the LAW it doesn't.

[Noir Angel]

The kind of sick comments being made in this thread are a shining testament to why I find it impossible to trust so called "sensible" gun owners. Reality is US culture places an unhealthy obsession upon violence and retribution.

[excalpius]

The problem with that view is that they will always be in a position to threaten you. Always. You may incapacitate them today or stop them from what they're doing today, but there's always another day for them to come back (with weapons or more people) with revenge in mind. Even if they go to prison for however many years, they will definitely be allowed out again at some point (probably quite soon after the crime), and having to spend time in prison might even make them more likely to want to enact revenge.

This is the real world. Not a movie. Once caught and shot, these kids would have been tried as adults and put away for a very long time.

[Calum Veteran]

This is the real world. Not a movie. Once caught and shot, these kids would have been tried as adults and put away for a very long time.

Exactly?this is the real world. There have been cases of criminals coming back for revenge after they served their prison sentence. They may not be put away for a long time?it depends on how tough the laws are in that place. In the UK, these people wouldn't be in prison for a long time.

He's done society a favor... Good riddance. Hopefully other burglars will look at this and think twice about robbing somebody.

As sad as I find it that people had to die and others had to lose friends and loved ones, I do completely agree with you. These criminals would have always been a threat to innocent people in society, for as long as they lived. It's the unfortunate, sad truth?innocent people in society are better off without some people (those who intentionally harm others).

[NinjaiX]

The comments in this thread are sickening shame on you who said these kid's deserved what they got, no one deserves to be murdered specially after incapitated.

[Noir Angel]

Actually, by being violent to criminals all you're doing is sending the message that violence is an acceptable way to deal with those that we dislike.

[Lord Method Man]

Home owner's response went beyond self defense, will definitely be going away for a while thanks to the "clean finishing shot."

However I'm not mourning the loss of the two maggots who invaded his home. Society is better off with them gone.

[Brandon Live Veteran]

To be fair maybe he did call the police first. If you check out online, even in bigger cities. There are 911 calls where it took the police 10+ Mins to even get there. One 911 call, a womans husband and daughter were shot and killed, it took Phoenix PD 18 MINS TO MAKE ENTRY.

One of the articles linked above your post says he left their bodies in his basement for a day before police discovered them. That doesn't help his self-defense case...

Byron Smith, 64, a retired federal employee, is charged with second-degree murder in the two deaths. Smith, whose brother said he had endured numerous break-ins in recent years, remained in the Morrison County jail Wednesday night after earlier admitting that he repeatedly shot the intruders, including final shots at close range, then left their bodies in his basement for a full day until deputies arrived to check on a neighbor's concerns that he might have killed somebody.