In the small town of Kellogg, Idaho, a White male named Aiken Smith, a 16-year-old with dreams of a military career, was tragically killed on June 18, 2023. He was not the only one to lose his life that day; his mother, Kenna Guardipee, 41, his older brother, Devin R. Smith, 18, and his grandfather, Kenneth Guardipee, 65, were also killed in their home.
Aiken was known as a "super good kid" who found a sense of purpose in the junior ROTC program and was dedicated to his goal of joining the Air Force. His grandfather remembered him as a "shining star" and his best friend.
The violence erupted from a dispute with their upstairs neighbor, Majorjon Kaylor, 31. Tensions had been escalating after Kaylor's wife accused Aiken's older brother, Devin, of exposing himself to her and her young children a few days prior to the shooting. The police had been called and had recommended a misdemeanor charge against Devin, but it had not yet been filed. On that fateful Father's Day, an argument broke out between the families. Kaylor later told police that he "snapped" and "did something about it" because he felt his concerns were not being taken seriously.
Armed with a handgun, Kaylor confronted his neighbors. According to court documents and surveillance footage, he shot Kenneth and Kenna Guardipee outside their ground-floor apartment. He then entered their home, where he shot Aiken and Devin. All the victims were shot at close range, with at least three of them having gunshot wounds to their temples. After the shootings, Kaylor reportedly told his wife that he "did what he had to do" to protect their family.
Majorjon Kaylor was arrested at the scene and later confessed to the killings. He was initially charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. In a plea agreement, Kaylor pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree murder. The Shoshone County Prosecuting Attorney's Office decided not to seek the death penalty after discussions with the victims' family. In March 2024, Majorjon Kaylor was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. During the sentencing, family members remembered Aiken as an innocent and kindhearted young man whose bright future was violently cut short.
