Oklahoma Teen Runaway Found Dead After Attempted Robbery In Texas

Pottawatomie County Undersheriff Travis Palmer has confirmed 17-year-old Kenneth Chaffin -- a runaway who stole a truck, guns, ammunition and medication from his Bethel Acres home -- is one of two teens found shot to death in Texas.

Wednesday, March 20th 2013, 10:25 pm

By: News 9


Pottawatomie County Undersheriff Travis Palmer has confirmed 17-year-old Kenneth Chaffin -- a runaway who stole a truck, guns, ammunition and medication from his Bethel Acres home -- is one of two teens found shot to death in Texas.

The other teen has been identified as 18-year-old Dillon King, Chaffin's friend.

The search for Chaffin began Tuesday after police say the teen stole the arsenal of weapons Monday night from his parents' home. He reportedly took nine handguns, six rifles and between 1,500 to 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

His parents' stolen truck was found Wednesday in North Texas, after an apparent break-in attempt.

3/20/2013 Related Story: Truck Driven By Armed Pottawatomie County Runaway Found In Texas

According to authorities in Ellis County, Texas, a woman was watching television in her home around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, when she heard someone turning a door knob. She stood up and saw a suspect in camouflage with a gun strapped to his back. 

She told deputies she called her husband, who just happened to be pulling in at about the same time. He saw two suspects, rushed inside and got a gun. Moments later, investigators say there was a significant exchange of gunfire.

The homeowner was able to hit one of the suspects, but investigators believe both suspects shot and killed themselves. The homeowner was also hit. Investigators say his injuries were minor and he was treated and released on the scene.

"I believe it would have been a different outcome had they not been armed, because our suspects were heavily armed," said Lt. James Saulter, Ellis County, TX Sheriff's Department.

3/19/2013 Related Story: Pott. County Authorities Seek Runaway Teen Who Stole Parents' Weapons, Truck

Chaffin's parents say, they don't know what may have led their son to Maypearl, Texas.

"Just kind of disbelief," said Kenneth's father, Roland Chaffin."Why he left, we don't have a clue right now. We'll probably never know, other than you know Kenneth has always bucked my rules. I'm a hard-nosed parent. I believe in rules, and all my kids know it."

Chaffin and his wife returned to their rural Pottawatomie County home and found it ransacked. He says he got a call around 7:15 p.m. Monday from his son, saying he was home. 

"Everything seemed to be going fine. I mean, there was no harsh words, there was nothing that brought this on that we could tell, other than him getting in with the wrong crowd," said Chaffin. 

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