Killer Probably Got Gun In House

2 in Dale City Were Slain in Burglary

The gun most likely used by the Dale City teenager charged in the killings of a mother and son in his neighborhood was a family heirloom tucked away in the victims' house that had probably not been fired in a quarter-century, a family member said.

"These were weapons we had used for target practice when I was a child," said Rick Smith, the husband of Jean C. Smith and father of James M. Smith, 19.

"They were not loaded," Smith said. "I believe there was ammunition that may have been there. . . . Those weapons had not been fired in at least 25 years."

Nevertheless, the 17-year-old neighbor charged in the killings, who had a history of committing daytime burglaries in the area, managed to locate a .22-caliber rifle and a revolver in the Smith house, according to court records. Authorities believe he used one of the guns to kill Jean and James Smith, and then left the house with the two weapons, a laptop, some ammunition and a blue bag, court papers say. Officials said the items were valued at a total of less than $1,000.

In a statement to police, the suspect said he had shot the mother and son, court records say, and the investigation led authorities to the stolen weapons. The guns were recovered at the nearby house of a friend, who was charged yesterday with concealing evidence in the crimes, according to police and court documents.

In a wide-ranging interview yesterday, Rick Smith said his family and that of the alleged killer knew each other. The suspect's older brother and sister had attended C.D. Hylton Senior High School with James Smith and his sister, Sarah, and had sung in the chorus, which the family has been heavily involved in for years.

Yesterday, as he made funeral arrangements and prepared for Christmas with his three remaining children, Rick Smith said he was devastated to know that a neighbor is charged in the slayings.

"It's heartbreaking," Smith said. "But you know . . . I certainly don't know that would ever change my feelings toward the type of policy we have or just the way we interact with the community."

Smith was referring to his family's well-known open-door policy. If someone was home, the Smiths weren't the type to lock the door, and it wasn't uncommon for Rick Smith to get home from work and find his family hosting four or five kids for dinner, he said.

The house was probably unlocked Friday afternoon, too, when law enforcement officials believe the 17-year-old neighbor, a junior at Hylton, might have cased the residence and waited for Jean Smith, 39, to leave before going inside.

According to court records, the suspect was spotted by a neighbor about 12:30 Friday afternoon, hanging around the Smith's cul-de-sac at the same time Jean Smith was seen driving off. Once inside, the teen encountered James Smith -- just back from a trip with his a cappella group to Boston and sleeping on the couch -- and probably shot him because he was afraid Smith could identify him, law enforcement officials said. When Jean Smith came home and tried to call police, the teen shot and killed her, too, police said.

Police are running ballistics tests to confirm the weapon used. The guns were stored unloaded in a closet in the master bedroom, police officials said.