11-year-old girl uses shotgun to scare away intruder

LAPEER COUNTY, Mich. — An 11-year-old used a shotgun to scare an intruder away from their home.

The girl was home alone Friday when a vehicle entered the driveway. The individual knocked on all the doors and then forced entry into the residence, the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department said.

The child hid in a bathroom closet with a shotgun, police said. The bathroom and the bathroom closet were eventually forced open by the suspect, according to WNEM TV.

The girl aimed the gun at the suspect and the suspect fled from the residence, police said, adding the child was not harmed during the incident.

The suspect’s vehicle was located in Imlay City, about 30 minutes after the incident, and stopped by Imlay Police, Almont Police Department, Michigan State Police and Lapeer County Sheriff’s deputies, police said. The occupants of the vehicle were taken into custody.

James Wasson, 53, and Rhonda Steward, 31, both of Detroit, are in custody at the Lapeer County Jail. They are charged with first-degree home invasion, second-degree home invasion, and burglary tool possession.

Wasson is also charged with receiving and concealing stolen property valued between $1,000 and $20,000, felon in possession of a firearm and firearm with commission of a felony.