Watch CBS News

Man Charged With Killing Little Falls Teen Set To Leave Jail

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (WCCO) - The Little Falls man charged with killing two teens is waiting to get out of jail after a judge agreed to lower his bail at a hearing Monday afternoon.

Sixty-four-year-old Byron Smith is accused of shooting Haile Kifer, 18, and Nick Brady, 17, after he says they broke into his home on Thanksgiving.

A source tells WCCO that Smith's family is working hard to come up with money after his bail was dramatically reduced.

Over the strong objection of prosecutors, Smith's bail was reduced from a $1 million bond or $100,000 cash to $500,000 dollar bond or 50,000 cash.

If Smith goes for the cash option, someone has to walk into the jail with $50,000 in bills. If he opts for the bond route, that involves a bail bondsman and someone putting up something for collateral.

Smith did agree to surrender his passport. His defense attorney will not comment where Smith will go when and if he is released from jail.

Emotions are running very high in Little Falls after the details of how he repeatedly shot the teen intruders; even after by his own admission they were clearly disabled.

And the fact that this was all captured on his surveillance video has inflamed emotions further.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.