Michigan Boy Hailed Hero for Stopping Abduction

A 13-year-old boy in Michigan is being hailed a hero after fighting off a potential kidnapper with his slingshot. The boy’s 8 year old sister was hunting for mushrooms in her backyard in Alpena when a 17-year-old appeared out of the woods behind the family’s home. According to the Michigan State Police, the suspect grabbed the girl, holding her mouth shut to prevent her from screaming.

According to Michigan State Police, the teen suspect managed to catch the girl off-guard, covering her mouth with his hand so that she couldn’t scream. He then wrapped his arm around her waist and began dragging her backward into the woods from which he emerged. Just then, the victim’s older brother sprang into action.

Her brother, Owen Burns, starting shooting the suspect with a slingshot. The boy managed to fire off two perfect shots, striking the would-be kidnapper in the head and chest until he retreated. The suspect ran away and was later found hiding at a nearby gas station. He reportedly had obvious injuries that appeared to have been caused by the slingshot.

Officials announced that the suspect confessed to police that he “planned on severely beating the victim” once he got her into the woods. He was charged with one count of attempted kidnapping/child enticement, one count of attempted assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, and one count of assault and battery. His bond was set at $150,000.

A Michigan State Police spokesperson said “You wouldn’t think if you were playing in your own back yard or on your own property that you have to be concerned about something like this, but it just goes to show that there is evil out there. Owen was “really the one” to save her. For a 14-year-old to see that and pop into action that quickly is extraordinary and he should be commended for it. What he did also helped us identify who the suspect was of the obvious injuries from being hit with the slingshot and those were things that helped us evidentiary-wise identify who it was.”