An Alpena Township girl is alive and safe today after her brother saved her from an attacker that tried to abduct her from the family's backyard last Wednesday (5/10/23).
The 8-year-old girl was in her backyard mushroom hunting when a 17 boy came out of the woods, grabbed her, covered her mouth, and attempted to drag her back into the woods.
While attempting to abduct the little girl, her quick-thinking 13-year-old brother who witnessed what was happening from inside the house, grabbed his slingshot and shot the attacker in the head and in the chest. This gave the girl the opportunity she needed to get away from the attacker who then fled the scene.
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Michigan State Police:
He really is the one that saved his sister's life from something seriously bad happening to her. To see that and to pop into action that quickly is extraordinary.
Police eventually found and arrested the attacker after a description was given by another family. Police also noticed his wounds from the slingshot which helped in identifying him. He was hiding at a nearby gas station when he was arrested.
According to WBNS, the 17-year-old's name has not been released though he has been charged as an adult 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.
The suspect admitted to police that he planned on beating the girl severely.

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