Home alone, an 11-year-old girl from Lapeer County, Michigan, defended her home from two intruders Friday with the help of her father’s shotgun, local media reported.
Upon hearing the suspects break their way into her home, the young girl went and hid in a bedroom closet with a shotgun.
When one of the suspects forced open the closet door, that suspect was surprised to find that he was staring down the business end of the gun. It was enough to send them fleeing.
“Her father is an avid hunter, she is familiar with weapons and inside that closet is where the gun case is,” Detective sergeant Jason Parks told WNEM.
Police later arrested 53-year-old James Wasson and 31-year-old Rhonda Steward in connection with the break-in. Police charged them with first-degree home invasion, second-degree home invasion, and burglary tool possession.
Police said that the two suspects have been on a robbery spree since December and have burglarized between 25 to 50 homes.
“Due to this little girl, her keeping her composure, she was able to observe and articulate what she saw. It definitely made a huge difference in this case and because of that ability, people are in custody,” Parks added.
This story makes one wonder about those who ardently believe children should not learn how to safely and responsibly handle a firearm. Had this child not known how to handle a firearm, she would have been utterly defenseless against the intruders. Who knows what could have happened had that been the case.
Obviously, when it comes to children and firearms there’s not a one-size-fits-all age for instruction, some children are ready to learn at a young age while others need more time to mature. But whenever the time comes, it’s always better to teach children how to use guns as opposed to leaving them in the dark.
her parents did a great job!!!! and so did she
This is a feel good story. I love the outcome and admire the little girl. But why was an eleven year old left home alone?
At the age of eleven, I was not only babysitting my younger brothers, but also being paid to babysit for other families. Eleven-year-old people are not necessarily helpless, nor are they idiots. That girl’s parents were able to leave their daughter home alone because they knew she was a responsible individual. But they did even more for her; by teaching her about firearms, they gave her the means to protect herself. Because they took the time to do that, they knew also that she was capable of handling herself, and would be safe even when they weren’t there to protect her. Those parents are to be commended.
you know it funny because they say keep guns out of children’s hands and then I hear shit like this, I say teach kid the use and consequence and maybe just maybe we wouldn’t have to talk about gun bans mag bans shooting bans locking up laws and so on. (911 WAS AN INSIDE JOB)
Hail to the Chief! Any adult is showing huge responsibility and foresight in teaching children firearms handling. I envy your position.
I am a certified instructor for the 4H program and role is too teach children how to shoot clay targets. Anyone who thinks an 10 year old and up child cannot handle a gun needs to attend one of the shoots or a class put on by the 4H organization. It is not at all uncommon to see a child of this age break 80% of the clay targets in a round of skeet or trap while obeying all of the safety rules required for handling their firearm in a competitive situation.
Outstanding ! Teaching our children to be safe, and proficient, with firearms is the best way to insure the rights of ownership, and the freedom to hunt and sport shoot continues.
Doesn’t really surprise me. Shooting isn’t like heart surgery. It’s a fairly simple skill.
too bad ol dad didn’t show the girl where the trigger is—these 2 idiots are probably already out on bail
Probably. But don’t worry, I am sure the court system will throw the book at them. They will certainly do a few weeks in jail before being turned loose. Hey, it’s called the criminal justice system, not the victims justice system.
Thank GOD she didn’t have to pull the trigger….
Yeah, she probably needed extensive ‘training’ to locate the trigger. Hours on the range to learn how to point and shoot a shotgun.