Kayleb Smerer was fatally shot by Jeffery Smerer as he waited for his father to take him to school on Sep. 11, 2025
Credit: CourtTV; Gofundme (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- Jeffery Smerer admitted in court to planning and shooting three of his children, killing his 17-year-old son
- The shootings occurred the same day Smerer was to be sentenced for exposing himself to a child at his family’s daycare
- Smerer was sentenced to life without parole after pleading guilty to multiple charges including open murder and child abuse
A Michigan father has been sentenced for killing his son and shooting two of his other children on the morning he was scheduled to be sentenced in another case.
Jeffery James Smerer pleaded guilty in May to several offenses, including open murder, for killing 17-year-old Kayleb Smerer and shooting two of his other children, ClickOnDetroit, CBS News and the Times Herald reported, citing court records.
On the morning of Sep. 11, 2025, Jeffery shot Kayleb and his 13-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter in their Port Huron, Mich., home, the Port Huron Police Department said at the time.
Jeffery admitted in court in May that he armed himself with a .380 handgun and shot Kayleb in the back of the head, the Times Herald reported. Jeffery also said it was his "intention" to plan and shoot his children.
At his sentencing on Monday, June 29, another of his children, who was not shot, told the court Kayleb was his "favorite son" and was simply was standing at the counter with his backpack, waiting for Jeffery to take him to school when he was shot.
Jeffery then went on to shoot his other two children, including his daughter who was his "second favorite child," the son said in court.
Jeffery wept in court as his son spoke.
Credit: Gofundme
Related: Dad Convicted of Indecent Exposure Was Set to Be Sentenced — Then He Woke Up and Allegedly Shot His 3 Children
On the morning of the shootings, Jeffery was scheduled to be sentenced for a misdemeanor indecent exposure, the Times Herald and CBS News reported.
In that case, Jeffery had reportedly exposed his genitals to a child who was in the care of the daycare his family ran, the outlets reported.
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Jeffery has pleaded guilty to open murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder, two counts of first-degree child abuse and five counts of felony firearm use, the Times Herald, ClickOnDetroit and CBS News reported in May.
On Monday, a judge sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole for the murder.
A GoFundMe page has been launched to support the surviving siblings and their mother.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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