Three teenage burglars shot dead by Oklahoma residen

Three teenage burglars shot dead by Oklahoma residen



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Three masked teenagers who broke into a home in broad daylight were shot dead by a 23-year-old man living inside.

The intruders, who were dressed in black and wore masks and gloves, entered the residence in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, before the homeowner's son confronted them with a rifle and opened fire.

The suspected burglars, said to be aged 16, 17 and 18, all died at the scene. One was armed with a knife while another carried brass knuckles.





A fourth suspect, Elizabeth Marie Rodriguez, 21, believed to be the getaway driver, turned herself after the shooting on Monday.

An investigation is ongoing, with police saying the 23-year-old appears to have acted in self-defense.



The 23-year-old was at home with his father when he was woken up by banging noises at around 12.30pm on Monday.

Wagoner County Sheriff's Deputy Nick Mahoney said the suspects gained entry after they shattered a glass door at the back of the house.

The homeowner's son armed himself with an AR-15 rifle, exchanged a few words with the suspects, and opened fire, Mahoney said.

Two of teens died in the kitchen, while a third ran to the driveway before collapsing and 'succumbing to his injuries', the sheriff's office said. They have not been named.

'Preliminary investigation looks like it's self-defense. This may be a case of "stand-your-ground", however, it’s still too early to say for sure, and we’re still looking into all aspects of this,' Mahoney told CNN.

There was no reason to believe the homeowner's son knew the suspected burglars, Mahoney said. The 23-year-old, who has not been charged, cooperated with authorities and gave a formal statement at the sheriff's office.

Both he and his father were uninjured.

The suspected getaway driver, Elizabeth Marie Rodriguez, 21, turned herself in after the shooting.

She has been arrested on three counts of first degree murder and three counts of first degree burglary. No bond has been set.

In Oklahoma, those suspected of committing a felony that results in a death can face murder charges even if they did not kill anyone, FOX23 reported.

The incident follows a number of burglaries in the neighborhood,  NewsOn6 reports.

Leon Simmons said his home was broken into a few months ago, and added: 'We've noticed a lot more people driving slow through the neighborhood, more than one at a time.'

Authorities said it was too early to determine whether the three teens were responsible for other burglaries.