Teen shoots father dead, takes off on joyride with friends and weapons

Zack, lower left, actually pulled the trigger killing his father Robert J. Blanchard

(Photo credit:  Tracy Glantz)

Teens are known for getting into mischief.  It’s a natural rite of passage into adulthood.  We’ve all heard of kids egging houses, or spiking the punch at the prom.  But there is a new breed of teens out there now, and they are deadly.  Four teenagers were arrested Friday in Newberry County, SC, after a leading police on a high-speed car chase.

The teens refused to pull over and police threw out a device to disable the tires.  The driver of the van lost control, and the kids jumped out and ran into a nearby wooded area.  The authorities rounded up the suspects and, upon searching the van, found an arsenal of lethal weapons.  According to Newberry County Sherriff Lee Foster, “weapons recovered included an AK-47 assault weapon, long guns, a shotgun, and about 200 rounds of ammunition.”

The teens (three boys and one girl), ages 15-17, are facing charges of first-degree murder, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of stolen firearms.  The victim is Robert J. Blanchard who was found murdered in his home.  Police believe that one of the four teens arrested, his 16-year-old son Zack Blanchard, is the one who actually shot and killed Robert J. Blanchard.

The teens are awaiting extradition back to Tennessee.