Homeowner CHARGED After Killing Teenage Burglar

Yellow police line tape with Do Not Cross.

A Michigan homeowner faces felony charges for fatally shooting a teenage burglar, exposing how prosecutors are weaponizing the justice system against law-abiding citizens defending their property.

Story Snapshot

Dayton Knapton charged with manslaughter after killing 17-year-old burglar who broke into his garage
Prosecutor claims homeowner “crossed the line” by firing at fleeing suspects, undermining self-defense rights
Seven criminals invaded Knapton’s property at 1 a.m., triggering his security cameras
Case sparks debate over Michigan’s Stand Your Ground law and homeowner protection limits

Homeowner Criminalized for Defending Property

Dayton Knapton, 24, awakened at 1 a.m. on July 8, 2025, to security cameras showing seven intruders breaking into his detached garage in White Lake Township, Michigan.

Armed with his legally owned 9mm handgun, Knapton fired two shots through the locked, windowless garage door, then fired five additional shots as the criminals fled his property. Seventeen-year-old Sivan Wilson died from his injuries after fellow burglars delayed seeking medical care for thirty minutes.

Prosecutor Attacks Constitutional Rights

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald charged Knapton with manslaughter, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and two felony firearm counts.

McDonald’s statement reveals the anti-gun agenda: “We believe the evidence demonstrates this defendant crossed the line by firing outside his home at fleeing persons.”

This prosecutorial overreach ignores the fundamental right of Americans to protect their homes and property from criminal invasion.

Stand Your Ground Law Under Attack

Michigan’s Stand Your Ground statute permits deadly force when individuals reasonably believe it necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. The law removes the duty to retreat from one’s home or any place legally occupied.

However, McDonald’s charging decision signals prosecutors will second-guess split-second decisions made by homeowners facing criminal threats, effectively neutering constitutional protections.

Justice System Protects Criminals Over Citizens

While Knapton faces life-altering felony charges and posted $200,000 bond, the surviving burglars including 21-year-old Matthew Grinage and four minors received lesser breaking and entering charges.

This backward prioritization demonstrates how the justice system increasingly favors criminal perpetrators over law-abiding property owners exercising constitutional rights. The case threatens to establish precedent undermining every American’s right to defend their home and family.

Legal experts note the distinction between defending against imminent threats versus using force after threats subside.

However, homeowners facing multiple intruders in dark conditions cannot be expected to make perfect legal calculations while protecting their families and property from criminal invasion.