Young Boy Uses Slingshot To Save His 8-Year-Old Sister From Being Abducted From Backyard
Age doesn't matter when it comes to loyalty and fearlessness. A 13-year-old boy from Michigan is being hailed a hero (and the world's best brother) after bravely rescuing his 8-year-old sister from a potential abduction.Armed with nothing but a slingshot, Owen Burns thwarted the would-be kidnapper in an impressive David vs. Goliath-esque display.According to the Michigan State Police, Owen's younger sister was mushroom hunting in her rural backyard when a 17-year-old male appeared from the woods beside the property. Grabbing the girl from behind and covering her mouth, he attempted to drag her back with him.The assailant would have been successful had it not been for her older brother saving the day and most likely, her life.How a Boy and His Slingshot Saved His Sister's LifeOwen was in his bedroom when he heard his sister's screams. He immediately ran to the window to see what was happening.Upon witnessing the attack, he grabbed his slingshot and a green marble and took aim - out his bedroom window - at the assailant 200 FEET away. KEEP READING: 3 Kids in a Family of 6 Are All About to Lose Their Eyesight — What They Do Next Is Shockingly BraveWith the precision of a sharpshooter, Owen fired, shooting the assailant in the head. He then grabbed a rock, reloaded his trusty $3 slingshot, and shot him squarely in the chest. His sister, seizing the opportunity to get away, took off running into the house."I shot him in the head and chest and she starts running," Owen told NPR in an interview.The kidnapper, reeling from the shots, fled into the woods. Owen's sister was unharmed.Michigan State Troopers found the suspect hiding at a nearby gas station later that day. He was easy to identify, bearing the marks of Owen's handiwork. "What [Burns] did helped us to identify who the suspect was, because obviously he had injuries from getting hit with a slingshot, and those were things that helped us evidentiary-wise to identify who it was, so that was very valuable too," Lt. John Grimshaw said in a news conference.Police arrested the 17-year-old and charged him 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. Detectives say that he allegedly confessed that he "planned on severely beating the victim."Owen Burns is Being Hailed a Hero There's no denying that Owen's heroic intervention made all the difference that day. If he hadn't acted when he did, the outcome would have been tragic. "He really is the one that I believe saved his sister's either life or from something seriously bad happening to her, " Lt. John Grimshaw said. "He should be commended for it."Not to mention he's won brother brownie points FOR LIFE.Thanks to Owen's quick thinking, bold action, and skillful use of a simple slingshot, a truly terrifying situation has a happy ending.Something his mother, Margaret, is also incredibly grateful for. It may even be enough to convince her to allow Owen to start using the slingshot at home. She had previously banned it because he would occasionally break things. The proud mom told NPR that she was glad her son picked up the slingshot when he did, and called his actions that day "very impressive."Impressive, indeed. Owen is only 13 years old. He's still a child himself. And yet, he didn't let that stop him from protecting his little sister when she needed him most. Siblings may bicker and fight, but when it comes to outside threats, they will always have each other's backs. That is the power and strength of the sibling bond, regardless of age.
