by Josh Ford | 24News
Three Oklahoma teenagers were killed when they broke into a house and were met by a homeowner with an AR-15. Now the grandfather of one of the teenagers is speaking out about his grandson’s death.
According to KTUL-TV, Leroy Schumacher, grandfather of 17-year-old Jacob Redfearn, believes the death of Redfearn was unjustified because the homeowner’s AR-15 gave him an unfair advantage over the three burglars.
Speaking to KTUL, Schumacher acknowledged that breaking into a house was “stupid,” but death was not the appropriate consequence.
“What these three boys did was stupid,” Schumacher said. “They knew they could be punished for it but they did not deserve to die.”
“Brass knuckles against an AR-15? C’mon. Who was afraid for their life?” Schumacher said.
The homeowner who pulled the trigger has not been charged with any crimes because police say he acted in self-defense. But Schumacher reinterated his belief that the consequences literally did not fit the crime.
“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 told KTUL.
In addition to Redfearn, 19-year old Maxwell Cook and 16-year old Jake Woodruff were also shot and killed in the home invasion. Getaway driver, 21-year-old Elizabeth Rodriguez, was not injured but later arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree burglary and one count of second-degree burglary.
Police also say Rodriguez admitted to planning the burglary.
More from CNN:
Rodriguez went to police in Broken Arrow, a Tulsa suburb, and told them she was involved. Oklahoma state law says that first-degree murder occurs if “any other person takes the life of a human being during … first degree burglary.” Another condition is if a person causes the death of another person with “malice aforethought.”
In the end, Schumacher said he supports the Second Amendment right to bear arms but doesn’t agree with killing home invaders.
“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.”
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It’s a shame the parents didn’t teach these kids better. now they are dead and the parents have to live with that. If it had been their homes and they had to protect themselves it would be a different story. We need to start teaching our kids right from wrong and to know the difference. My heart goes out to all involved and the pain they will live with. If anything can be learned here, let it happen.
I don’t think you can say the parents didn’t teach them better. I’d give the parents the benefit of the doubt until it’s shown otherwise. It’s not like the parents were there committing burglary with them.
But gramps is off his rocker. Kids got what they deserved.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
People Crack me up when they say this stupid stuff, where’s their brain at?
You break into someone’s house they don’t know what your going to do to them,anything can happen in the heat of the moment. Their going to protect their life or property no matter how or by any means.
Maybe they should of learned u don’t break into someone’s house.Now they know the consequences, they paid with their lives. Sad because so young but the reality is u should no better,nobody just gonna just sit back and say take whatever u want,it’s ok I won’t do anything.
Gonna get a big hole put in u if u come in my house !!
Install some values in your kids and this stuff wouldn’t happen!!
So his comments of disgust and anger isn’t for the fact his thug son committed a Burglary, possibly a home invasion, but, that the homeowner shot and killed them…with an AR-15! I’m going to leave it ROGHT there!
1) They should NOT have committed the burglary – 2) They should have thought about the possible consequences BEFORE they attempted to commit the burglary – 3) Should the homeowner have just tried to take on the 3 kids by hand? 4) Would it have made a difference if it had been a revolver instead of an AR platform rifle? – 5) The homeowner ALSO has to live with the fact that they defended their home, and possibly life, by taking the life of 3 people
Our homes and citizens must be protected from home invasion. No one ☝️ Is going to assess age, race or reason when they find a person In their home, threatening their safety. I feel for the families, but, you can’t blame a firearm owner for protecting his family. Grandpa needs to take ownership of his part as a grandparent in teaching his grandson right from wrong. If that butt had been torn up years ago, that butt would be safety at home and not in a graveyard. Teach your children at a young age and they will make good choices when they are more independent. If a child is defiant and won’t respond to guidance and discipline, then get help until they conform.
Those criminals weren’t murdered!! They were shot. Plus they were armed with lethal weapons!! And they outnumbered the homeowner. I dont feel one bit sorry they got killed. Nor should the homeowner be charged at all. I’m sick & tired of criminals being treated as victims. They chose to break the law, chose to bring lethal weapons, chose to commit a crime so they chose the consequences of their decisions. Too bad but no sympathy at all. I feel sorry 4 the homeowner who has been traumatized bcuz of these thugs, ALL of them!! Especially & even the woman. She admits this wasn’t the first time either & is covering 4 others involved.
Thou Shalt Not Steal!!! Plan and simple.
Thou Shalt Not Steal!! Plain & Simple.
If the young man was only there to steal stuff then why did he have brass knuckles? They to can kill.
exactly, and whose to say they also didnt give the homeowner the impression, or told him, they had guns? The homeowner couldnt, and shouldnt take any chances. Not a gamble on my life I would make
I agree with the person who said, where was thw grandfather
He must have known about the behavior prwviously.
There are signs of agression in the home.
What were the parents doing allowing a fourteen yearold kid roaming the streets.
Yes i blame the parents.
They must have been preccupied with their own lives to worry about what the child was doing outside the house.
Wait….. There wouldn’t have been a fight if YOUR grandson wouldn’t have been breaking into someone else’s home… GTFOH with that nonsense!!
Well, they won’t do that again in some other person’s house for sure. Don’t do the crime if your not willing to pay the price for your actions.
Criminals are never victims of their own crimes. Was the homeowner given the privilege of knowing they had no guns or knives with them as they happily invaded HIS HOME? Even so, three against one is enough of a physical threat to have me pick up my weapon and use it. Grandpa can be forgiven his opinion..he is grieving and remembers his grandson from infancy …he gets a pass..eventually, he might begin to wonder what he would have done if three thugs whom he didn’t know invaded his home.
Let the lesson be when you break the law there are consequences. Hopefully others will realize they can die when breaking into a home.
This is a grieving man. What he says is in profound grief of a grandson he dearly loved, even though his grandson did wrong and paid for it. Let’s leave it at that and go about of business.
Obviously kid wasn’t raised right, with grampy making that statement.
Secondly, that man who had to shoot him is also gonna live with that the rest of his life. That’s not an easy thing to overcome.
Let me get this straight… These 3 boys break into a person’s house with intent to burglarize it. The homeowner defends himself, his family, and his property by stopping the 3 with intent to steal and most of likely harm the people inside. But one of the 3 crooks grandfather said it was an unfair fight? You damn right it was unfair… It was unfair because 3 against 1…. Yet the 1 won the fight. So even though it was unfair, justice prevailed.
Play stupid games… win stupid prizes.