Grandfather says three teenage armed robbers 'did not deserve to die'

The grandfather of one of the three teenage armed robbers gunned down in self-defense by a 23-year-old Oklahoman with an AR-15 is saying that while “[w]hat these three boys did was stupid … they did not deserve to die.”

To recap, three teens were shot and killed last week in Wagoner County, Okla. when 23-year-old Zachary Peters awoke to the sound of a break-in, grabbed an AR-15 and shot and killed 19-year old Maxwell Cook, 16-year old Jake Woodruff and 17-year-old Jacob Redfern.

Two died in the kitchen, and the third died in the driveway.

The teens were masked, and armed with brass knuckles and a knife.

“These three individuals came to this residence with the intent to burglarize it. One was armed with brass knuckles, the other one was with a knife,” Deputy Nick Mahoney said.

“They were masked at the time, all had gloves on. They entered in through a back door, shattering the back door, and they entered into the residence.”

A 21-year-old woman named Elizabeth Rodriguez was behind the wheel of the getaway car and fled the scene when shots were fired.

She later turned herself in and faces a host of serious charges, including three counts of first-degree felony murder, three counts of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary.

“I know what we did was stupid and wrong,” Rodriguez told ABC News. “I don’t blame him … I understand why he did what he did. I mean, I do to an extent.”

Redfearn’s grandfather, Leroy Schumacher said that although “what these three boys did was stupid,” he believes this was not a fair encounter and that shooting all three was not needed.

“What these three boys did was stupid,” he told KTUL. They knew they could be punished for it but they did not deserve to die. Brass knuckles against an AR-15, come on, who was afraid for their life?”

“There’s got to be a limit to that law. I mean he shot all three of them; there was no need for that,” he added.

The grandfather says that while he does support the Second Amendment, he doesn’t agree with shooting to kill intruders.

“These boys’ families are going to suffer with this the rest of their lives. We have to live with this the rest of our lives,” he said. “You can’t change history, but you can damn sure learn from it, and maybe some kids will learn from this.”

Police maintain that Peters acted in self-defense.

Cox Media Group