Three Teen Burglars Killed By Homeowner’s Son

Three teenagers were killed by the resident of an Oklahoma home when they tried to break in, wearing masks and gloves, dressed in all black.

According to CNN, the 23-year-old son of a homeowner shot at the home intruders with an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle.

Three suspects were killed in the incident, while a fourth, their alleged getaway driver, is now facing charges of first-degree murder in their deaths.

“Preliminary investigation looks like it’s self-defense,” Wagoner County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Mahoney said.

Police say the deceased suspects were 18, 17, and 16 years old. The alleged getaway driver was a 21-year-old woman named Elizabeth Rodriguez, who police say turned herself in shortly after the shooting.

Rodriguez was arrested on three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary. She is currently being held in the Wagoner County Jail,according to Chief Deputy Les Young.

According to the Daily Mail, the shooter repeatedly asked officers at the scene, “Are they going to be alright…are they alright?”

The shooter has been identified as 23-year-old Zach Peters, who police say was “frightened” and in shock after firing shots at the teens.

The Daily Mail reports that the deceased teen suspects have been identified as 16-year-old Max Cook, 17-year-old Jacob Redfearn, and 18-year-old Jake Woodruff.

Sources say that the teens have never been in trouble with the law before. A knife and brass knuckles were found at the scene after the violent confrontation.

Two of the three suspects were killed in the house’s kitchen, while the other managed to crawl about 100 yards before succumbing to his gunshot wound in the driveway. Each teen died from a single bullet wound.

Police say that the incident is still under investigation, but that they believe Peters acted in self defense.

Peters told officers that he was frightened by the intruders and that he fired the “family rifle,” but did not intend to take the suspects’ lives.

Mahoney says that the suspects gained entry after they shattered a glass door in the back of the home. Peters was in the home with his father, but encountered the suspects first.

“There was a short exchange of words, then gunfire happened,” Mahoney said.

Mahoney says that it does not appear that Peters or his family knew the intruders.

According to the Daily Mail, Rodriguez planned the burglary and drove the three teens to Peters’ home. She waited in the driveway while they broke into the house and drove off when she heard gunshots. She later turned herself in, revealing the names of the three suspects.

Oklahoma law states that those suspected of committing a felony which results in death are eligible to face murder charges, even if they did not kill anybody themselves.

Sources: Daily Mail, CNN / Photo Credit: KOTV