Little Falls Shooter Indicted on 1st Degree Murder Charges

LITTLE FALLS -- A Morrison County grand jury has indicted a Little Falls man on first degree murder charges in the shooting deaths of two teenagers.

According to the Morrison County Court Administrator's Office, 64-year-old Byron Smith had two charges of second degree murder amended to first degree murder charges.

Smith is accused of shooting and killing 17-year-old Nicholas Brady and 18-year-old Haile Kifer after they broke into his home on Thanksgiving Day. Smith is accused of shooting the teens multiple times and putting their bodies in another room. Authorities didn't discover the bodies until the next day.

According to the criminal complaint, Smith has admitted shooting the teens but says he did so in self defense.

Smith remains free on bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 1st.