Three Oklahoma Teens Killed During Home Invasion

Three teenagers were killed in a deadly home invasion in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, when the home-owners son, 23 year old Zach Peters shot them with an   AR-15 rifle.  The teens, who broke in through a back door, were later identified as 19-year-old Maxwell Cook, 17-year-old Jacob Redfearn and 16-year-old Jaykob Woodriff.  All three were dressed in black and wearing masks and gloves.  One of the alleged suspects was found to have a knife, while another was carrying brass knuckles.

No charges have been filed against Zach Peters and Wagoner County Sheriff’s Deputy Nick Mahoney said “Preliminary investigation looks like it’s self-defense,” but cautioned that the investigation was still ongoing.  Oklahoma is one of 24 states which have laws also known as “stand your ground” laws-allowing citizens to shoot someone if they believe the person threatens their safety, according to the National Council of State Legislatures.

The getaway driver, Elizabeth Rodriguez, a 21 year old mother of three, has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree burglary.  She has been jailed without bond since turning herself in.  Oklahoma law allows a person to be charged with murder if they take part in a crime in which people are killed, even if the person does not take part in the slaying.

Rodriguez, who was in a relationship with Cook, one of the suspects killed, admits to planning the burglary and driving the teens to the home on two occasions that same day.  The teens first broke into and stole items from a garage apartment earlier in the day but returned to gain entry into the main house.  It does not appear that the residents and intruders knew each other but Rodriguez told authorities she knew the homeowner Zach Peters, had knowledge of the house and chose his house because she believed he had money.

The suspects kicked in a back door and encountered Peters, who shot all three after a brief exchange of words.  Peters’ father was also in the house at the time but was not involved in the shooting.  Rodriguez, who had been waiting in her car in the driveway, fled the scene when she heard shots fired.  She turned herself in shortly after seeing a news report of the shooting on TV so the families of the deceased could be notified.

During a jailhouse interview with Inside Edition, Rodriguez said that she and the teens had committed several car-jacking and home invasions prior to the fatal home invasion in Broken Arrow.  She stated that she waited in her car after hearing the shots and saw the youngest of the suspects killed, Jake Woodruff stumble to the driveway, and slide across the hood of her car before collapsing on the ground.  She then sped out of the driveway, leaving him on the ground.

Immediately after the shooting, Peters barricaded himself in his bedroom and called 911.  In the 911 call, Peters tells the operator that he shot two intruders and that another had gotten away.  When asked, he tells the operator that the suspects were shot in the upper body and asks them to send help fast as one is badly wounded, though he can still hear one talking.

When police arrived, two of the suspects were found deceased in the kitchen and the third had succumbed to his wounds in the driveway.  Police stated that Peters appeared to be in shock and repeatedly asked if the suspects were going to be ok.