Heroic Michigan boy, 13, saves his sister, 8, by shooting slingshot at kidnapper’s head
ALPENA, MICHIGAN: A 13-year-old boy bravely rescued his sister from the grip of an abductor on May 10. The identities of the siblings as well as the 17-year-old suspect have not been released because of their status as minors. But Michigan State Police from the Alpena Post reportedly said that the girl child was searching for mushrooms in her backyard when the incident happened.
9 and 10 News reported that the alleged teen kidnapper covered the little girl’s mouth and tried to take her inside the woods when her elder brother saw them. The Alpena Post Commander, Lt. John Grimshaw, said, “He was able to grab his slingshot and was able to slingshot something that hit the suspect right in the head. And that caused him to let go. The girl was able to struggle and get away and he shot another one, hit the suspect in the chest, and then fled the scene.”
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‘Scream as loud as you possibly can’
The unnamed accused was later caught at a gas station by cops. Grimshaw also praised the girl’s sibling as he mentioned, “But what he did also helped us to identify who the suspect was because, obviously, he had injuries from getting hit with a slingshot.” The lieutenant also advised the public, “Fight, fight, do everything you can... bite the hand that’s holding you, that is over your mouth. Stomp on their feet, kick them in the shin, and do whatever you can to fight. And then if your mouth is free, scream as loud as you possibly can.”
The alleged abductor has reportedly been held in the juvenile section of the jail. He is expected to appear in court on May 17 after being arraigned on May 11 in the 88th District Court on 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.
‘It’s a very sad world we are living in’
The children’s uncle Gary Quintel also shared about the case on his Facebook page. He posted, “Hey everyone earlier today my niece was almost kidnapped out of her own yard here in Alpena on the south end of town, a young 17-year-old with a black mohawk grab my niece and tried kidnapping her my nephew heard her screaming and saw through his window and shot the guy with a slingshot.”
Quintel added, “The guy let go cops were called and found out that the guy is now in custody, our kids are too precious to let somebody try to take them when your kids are outside playing, we really need to pay attention to what they're doing and who's around them I'm very proud of my nephew and I know my niece is traumatized and I'm sending prayers for her they had to be extremely scary for her.”
The social media release attracted a lot of comments with a user saying, “I’m so thankful she’ll be ok, but surely traumatized. It’s a very sad world we are living in now.” Another user wrote, “Shame it isn't like the old days...TF wrong with people. Happy everyone is safe. Blessed be.” “Her Guardian Angel was watching,” the third one added.
