The Oklahoma man who fatally shot three teenage intruders won’t face charges, authorities announced Monday.
Zachary Peters, 23, defended his family’s home with an AR-15 after three teenager broke into the house to try and rob it last week, reports the Associated Press.
The Wagoner County assistant district attorney announced that Peters acted lawfully, after authorities conducted an investigation into the shooting.
“It is the opinion of this office that Zachary Peters acted justifiably … when he used deadly force to defend his home,” Wagoner County Assistant District Attorney Jack Thorp said. “It was clear he operated completely within the law when he used deadly force,” Thorp added later on.
Jacob Redfearn, Maxwell Cook and Jake Woodruff broke into Peters’ house dressed in all black. Peters, who was home alone, fatally shot them with an AR-15. When sheriff’s deputies arrived on the scene, they found one dead body in the driveway and two dead bodies in the kitchen. (RELATED:Family Of Dead Burglar Complains About Homeowner’s Son Using AR-15)
Police recovered brass knuckles on one body and a knife on another.
Chris Elliott, the Wagoner County Sheriff, agreed with the decision not to charge Peters. “We support the right of our citizens, the right to bear arms and to defend their homes,” Elliott said. “In this such case, we feel strongly that’s what took place here.”
Redfearn’s grandfather, Leroy Schumacher, criticized Peters last week for killing his grandson, saying it wasn’t a fair fight because Peters had an AR-15.
“There’s got to be a limit to that law, I mean he shot all three of them; there was no need for that,” Schumacher said. “These boys’ families are going to suffer with this for the rest of their lives. We have to live with this for the rest of our lives”
Elizabeth Marie Rodriguez, the getaway driver for the crime, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and two counts of burglary in connection to the failed robbery, Thorp said Monday.
“I won’t take responsibility for the murders, I won’t. I feel guilty, but I don’t feel responsible,” Rodriguez declared last week. Rodriguez is currently in jail without bond.
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