Family member of teen burglary suspect killed in Wagoner County break-in speaks out

COOKSON, Okla., (KTUL) -- A family member of one of the three teen suspects killed after breaking into a Wagoner County home Monday is speaking out for the first time.

The grandfather of Jacob Redfearn believes shooting and killing the 17-year-old and his friends was not needed.

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“What these three boys did was stupid," said Leroy Schumacher.

Schumacher agrees his grandson and his friends made a bad decision, but not one worthy of deadly consequences.

“They knew they could be punished for it but they did not deserve to die," said Schumacher.

Redfearn, 19-year old Maxwell Cook and 16-year old Jake Woodruff were shot by the homeowner’s son while breaking into the Wagoner County house Monday.

Schumacher says his grandson didn't have a chance. The 17-year old, he says, never got into trouble.

“Brass knuckles against an AR-15, come on, who was afraid for their life," said Schumacher.

Since the shooting, Wagoner County deputies have arrested 21-year-old Elizabeth Rodriguez, the alleged getaway driver.

Schumacher believes she was the ring leader, and investigators say she admitted to planning the whole thing.

The homeowner's son has not been charged with a crime. Deputies believe he fired in self-defense.

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

LISTEN: 911 call released from deadly Wagoner County burglary

Schumacher does say he supports the right to bear arms and protect your home. But he doesn’t agree with shooting and killing 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," said Schumacher.

It’s a situation he knows was caused by the three teens' poor decisions.

He only hopes their deaths can be an example for others.

“You can’t change history, but you can damn sure learn from it, and maybe some kids will learn from this," said Schumacher.

At one point Cook and Woodruff were enrolled with Owasso Public Schools, according to the district, and Redfearn was at one point enrolled in Collinsville Public Schools.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: A previous version of this story reported a vigil was planned for Friday night at Owasso's YMCA, according to Owasso Public Schools' superintendent, but the YMCA says no vigil is planned at their organization.