A Terrifying Scream in the Backyard
On a quiet afternoon in May 2023, an ordinary day turned into an absolute nightmare in Alpena Township, Michigan. Eight-year-old Addison Burns was happily searching for mushrooms behind her family home near the woods. Out of nowhere, a seventeen-year-old stranger emerged from the trees, grabbed the little girl, covered her mouth, and began dragging her away. Inside the house, her thirteen-year-old brother, Owen Burns, was relaxing in his bedroom when he heard a sudden, piercing scream. At first, Owen thought she was playing around, but when a second, desperate scream cut through the air, he rushed to his window. Looking out, Owen witnessed the horrifying sight of a kidnapper pulling his terrified sister toward the dense wilderness.
Precision Strikes Under Pressure
Without a moment of panic, Owen reached for a simple toy his mother had bought him for three dollars—a pocket slingshot. Years of backyard practice shooting at empty juice cans suddenly came down to the ultimate test. Moving with remarkable speed and focus, Owen loaded a glass marble, drew back the elastic band, and fired straight out of the open window. The marble struck the attacker directly in the head. Before the stunned suspect could react, Owen reloaded with a gravel stone and fired again, hitting the teenager right in the chest. In intense pain and confusion, the attacker lost his grip, giving the brave little girl the exact chance she needed to break free and run safely into the house.
A Community Hails a Modest Hero
The injured assailant fled the scene, but his escape was short-lived. Michigan State Police quickly located him hiding at a nearby gas station, where officers discovered fresh wounds on his head and chest that perfectly matched the strikes from Owen's slingshot. The suspect was taken into custody and charged with attempted kidnapping and assault. State troopers publicly praised the young boy, stating that his extraordinary courage directly saved his sister from a tragedy. When reporters later asked about his deadly accuracy, Owen modestly joked that the suspect was much easier to hit than a juice can. Asked why he stepped up so fearlessly, Owen smiled and replied that he did it simply because he loves his sister.
References
- Associated Press (AP News) - Michigan boy uses slingshot to save 8-year-old sister from kidnapping attempt
- NBC News - 13-year-old Michigan boy uses slingshot to rescue sister from attempted kidnapping
- NPR News - A 13-year-old boy in Michigan used a slingshot to stop a kidnapper
- The Alpena News - Alpena Township teen hailed as hero after saving sister
- Michigan State Police Seventh District Official News Release regarding the arrest in Alpena Township
- CBS News Detroit - Michigan teen uses slingshot to thwart sister's kidnapping