The four men accused in a Christmas Eve home invasion that left two people dead have been indicted on four counts of murder by a Carroll County grand jury.

Lance Timothy Thomas Jr., also known as “L.A.,” 20, Robert Andre Robinson, also known as “Bree,” 23, Tony Ray Smith, 22, all from Ohio, and James Lee Prothro III, 24, of Carrollton were indicted Monday in two counts of malice murder, two counts of felony murder and three counts of aggravated assault and burglary.

Carrollton police said the four men shot and killed David Nixon, 53, and family friend Michael Deon Cruver, 26, at Nixon’s home at 111 Molette St. around 1:50 a.m. on Dec. 24, 2008. Nixon’s son, Reginald, 27, was in the home at the time of the incident and survived a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

Reginald Nixon, police said, told investigators that Cruver stopped by the home only minutes before the attempted robbery occurred.

Police said Reginald Nixon, who did not know the suspects, was wrapping Christmas presents in the living room when two of the men knocked on his door, and that they had their guns drawn as he opened it. The younger Nixon is believed to have been the first victim shot, police said. One of the suspects stepped over the wounded man, who was pretending to be dead, and fired a shot into David Nixon’s bedroom, where he was asleep, police said.

Cruver was shot in the back of his head, and his body was discovered by police near the front door of the residence.

Police said the motive for the home invasion was robbery and that obvious signs of a struggle were found in the house.

Thomas, Robinson and Smith were arrested in Beaufort, S.C., after fleeing to the city, where Robinson’s father lived, following the shooting.

During a preliminary hearing held earlier this year, police Lt. James Perry testified that it was a cell phone dropped by Robinson at the scene that helped lead investigators to the suspects.

Perry testified the men rented a car from Ohio and drove to “party” and to buy marijuana while they stayed in Carrollton with Cherelle Williams, 21, who is Smith’s cousin. When investigators asked the suspects what city they were staying in, the men thought they were in Atlanta and never realized they were in Carrollton.

Police believe it was Prothro who led the Ohio men to the Nixons’ home.

Charges have been dropped against two others. Murder charges were dismissed in January against Jarrell A. Washington, 20, and Williams.

Police said Washington traveled with the Ohio men to Georgia but did not go to the house on Molette Street that morning, according to police. Instead, Washington stayed at Williams’ house and was asleep on the couch.

Police said charges were dropped against Williams after investigators learned another woman, Monique Springer, 30, of Carrollton, had lied about Williams’ involvement in the incident. Authorities said Springer was later charged with false imprisonment for allegedly giving police false information about Williams.