13-year-old boy stops kidnapper with a $3 toy his mom bought for him

Owen Burns was settling in to play his favorite game “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” on his PlayStation 3 when he heard his sister screaming from their yard. The 13-year-old thought she was goofing around and became annoyed.

Moments later the teenager looked out his bedroom window to see a stranger trying to drag his 8-year-old sister to the woods edging their home.

The panicked teenager grabbed his slingshot and got his hands on any immediate ammunition he could find; a marble and a rock. He directly aimed at the kidnapper and hit him squarely between the eyes.

The second time, he hit him in the chest. “He was swearing. He was cussing,” Owen told the press.

So cops came back today searching agian for this dudes sweater and they found it was actually a shrit thing he threw in…

Posted by Maggie Kay Burns on Thursday, May 11, 2023
The encounter happened at the Burns’ home in Alpena Township in Michigan in broad daylight. Their mother Maggie Burns noted that kidnappings were unheard of in the area.

At the end of the encounter, his 8-year-old sister was safe albeit probably traumatized from the incident. The kidnapper was a 17-year-old that the Michigan State Police did not identify but have confirmed will be charged as an adult.

“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 at a news conference, calling Owen’s actions “extraordinary.” This young boy’s actions were nothing short of heroic!

He added that the young man should be commended for his efforts.

The slingshot the teenager used was nothing out of the ordinary. His mother bought it on clearance for $3. The teen would at times go out to his yard and target practice on old orange juice cans which apparently perfected his aim.

The teenager said when he first saw a kidnapper attempting to abduct his sister one thought immediately crossed his mind; the stranger if successful in his attempt would likely either make his sister a sex slave or kill her.

Grimshaw recounted the encounter saying the kidnapper, “came from behind her, grabbed her like you see in the movies — hand over the mouth, arm around the waist — and was attempting to pull her into the woods.”

That is when Owen reached for his slingshot and fired at him. When his sister freed himself from the kidnapper’s grasp, she ran inside the home crying telling her brother she was almost killed. An enraged Owen ran outside cursing at the kidnapper. He hurled a baseball at him which missed. He then attempted to hit him with his slingshot again but the rubber broke and made his third attempt futile.

The siblings then called their mother who had stopped at a relative’s place to help out while she had been on her way home from work. When she heard her incoherent and upset children on the phone, she made out the word ‘kidnapper’ and rushed home to call the police.

“I was in shock for a few days,” Maggie said.

The 17-year-old kidnapper was found hiding at a nearby gas station. He was then charged with attempted kidnapping, attempted felony assault, and misdemeanor assault and battery in Alpena County District Court.

“He had obvious signs of an injury consistent with those that would have been sustained from the slingshot strikes to his head and chest,” police said in a press release.

Maggie said she was dubious of his son’s story about hitting the kidnapper from 200 feet away perfectly on his forehead and chest. But the police confirmed the story saying when they were interviewing the suspect, the marble-induced goose egg on his forehead kept growing.

Related Posts

Sally Field, 79, Gets Fans Talking with Her Latest Appearance After Refusing to Hide Her Age – Photos

A new video of the actress interacting with fans in New York City is drawing widespread reactions online, years after she spoke candidly about growing older in…

Which Glass Has More Water: Your Answer Reveals If You’re A Giver Or A Taker

At first glance, the puzzle seems almost too easy to be interesting. Four glasses labeled A, B, C, and D sit side by side, each appearing to…

How to Turn 31 Acres in Blaine into a Private Countryside Escape

If you’re looking for space to shape your own rural lifestyle, this 31.02-acre property in Blaine offers a strong foundation. The land blends open fields with wooded sections, creating…

How to Turn a 2.5-Acre Property into a Smart Living and Investment Opportunity

When searching for a property that balances flexibility with long-term value, a setup like this offers a strong starting point. The four-bedroom home provides a blank canvas,…

How to Transform a Historic Cottage into a Private Countryside Escape

Tucked into the quiet Fairview area near Duffield, this two-bedroom cottage sits on more than 35 acres of serene countryside. Originally built in 1900, the 888-square-foot home carries…

How to Create a Peaceful Nature Retreat on 1.5 Acres

In a world filled with constant notifications and packed schedules, finding a place to truly unwind can feel increasingly rare. A quiet 1.5-acre property offers a chance…