Siblings’ love is one of the strongest bonds, and this story shows it clearly.
Owen Burns, a 13-year-old boy from Alpena Township, Michigan, was about to play his favorite video game, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, on his PlayStation 3 when he suddenly heard his younger sister screaming. The noise came from the yard, where his 8-year-old sister was playing. When Owen looked out the window, he saw a man trying to drag her into the woods near their home.
Realizing he needed to act fast, Owen grabbed his slingshot, which his mom had bought for $3, and quickly found a marble and a rock to use as ammunition. Owen had practiced using the slingshot before and knew how to aim.
He hit the man with his first shot, striking him between the eyes. The second shot hit the man in the chest. Startled and hurt, the man swore loudly and ran away, leaving Owen’s sister behind. Though she was scared, she was safe, thanks to her brother’s quick thinking and courage.
Once they were safe inside, Owen and his sister called their mom, Maggie Burns, who was helping a relative at the time. She immediately rushed home and contacted the police.
The Michigan State Police later arrested the suspect, a 17-year-old, who will be charged as an adult. “Owen’s actions likely saved his sister’s life or prevented something very bad from happening,” said Lt. John Grimshaw at a news conference, describing Owen’s bravery as “extraordinary.”
At first, Maggie didn’t believe her son’s story about hitting the man with a slingshot. “It just didn’t sound real,” she said, but the police confirmed it. The suspect had visible injuries consistent with being hit by a slingshot. “You always say I lie,” Owen told his mom. She replied, “It sounded like something out of a movie.”
Owen’s bravery has been praised by many, and his quick actions made all the difference. This young man truly deserves to be called a hero.
