A Michigan father has been sentenced to life in prison for shooting his children in cold blood, which led to the death of one of them. Jeffrey Smerer has admitted to willingly shooting at his children, with the intent to kill.

Smerer revealed that he was “stressed” for a scheduled court appearance for an alleged indecent exposure incident that took place in 2020.

When asked by the public defense attorney if it was Smerer’s decision to kill his children, the father said, “Yes.” He has also stated that he wished to die by suicide after killing his children, but couldn’t do so because his gun “jammed.” The incident occurred on Sept. 11, 2025. The moment Smerer realized that his gun had jammed, he tried to slit his wrist and consume various types of medications.

17-year-old Kayleb Smerer died in the incident, while 13-year-old Bentley Smerer and 12-year-old Kinzley Smerer sustained serious injuries. Bentley suffered various facial fractures, while Kinzley is undergoing facial reconstruction and has been paralyzed from the neck down. According to Law and Crime, Smerer had been orchestrating the murder a “week prior” to the incident.

Smerer’s sister, Victoria Frazer, revealed that it was a regular day as he woke up and then woke the kids to go to school. However, “something just happened,” according to Frazer. A police detective detailed the events that led to the shooting. “He indicated that he woke up around 6 a.m. to his alarm, retrieved his .380 from the gun safe, which he keeps underneath his bed, and then proceeded into the bedroom of Kinzley and Bentley,” the detective revealed.

The detective’s questioning revealed that Smerer greeted the children with a “Good morning” as he entered their bathroom. He looked in the mirror and talked to himself, questioning himself if he was really going to do this. Following a conversation with himself, Smerer entered the children’s bedroom and began shooting. Bentley was on the cellphone, “under the blanket” that Smerer aimed at by looking for the glow. Kinzley was also caught up in the crossfire as Smerer shot her in the throat while she was getting up.

Finally, Smerer shot Kayleb in the head as he was seated on the living room couch. When questioned by the detective as to why Smerer chose to target the children, the accused yet again claimed his scheduled sentencing to be the reason. “His reason was that he was closest to Kinzley and Kayleb. He also said that Kinzley was close to Bentley,” the detective revealed. Smerer wished “to take Kinzley, Bentley, and Kayleb with him and then shoot himself.”

The father now faces five life sentences. He has pleaded guilty to “one count of open murder, two counts of assault with intent to commit murder and two counts of first-degree child abuse.” Smerer has also pleaded guilty to “five counts of felony firearm use, which carry a penalty of up to two years in prison. The sentencing is set to take place on June 29.