Parents dread the thought of their child facing harm, and while we strive to protect them from danger, frightening incidents can still occur, leaving families deeply shaken.
A Michigan family experienced a terrifying near-abduction when their 8-year-old daughter was nearly kidnapped while playing in their backyard. The young girl was gathering mushrooms when a 17-year-old boy grabbed her, covering her mouth.
Inside the house, 13-year-old Owen Burns was playing video games when he heard his sister’s screams. While many kids might have been unsure of how to respond, Owen acted swiftly.
Noticing the commotion through the window, Owen grabbed his slingshot and a marble, taking aim at the assailant.
Incredibly, Owen managed to hit the boy in the head with the marble on his first attempt. This caused the would-be kidnapper to release the girl, who then escaped while Owen quickly reloaded his slingshot with a rock.
He successfully struck the suspect in the midsection with his second shot. Remarkably, Owen had no prior practice with the slingshot, yet both of his projectiles hit their target.
“I was skeptical at first, but when the police confirmed that he had hit him twice and made both shots, I was really impressed,” Owen’s mother, Margaret Burns, told NBC News.