Oakland County Homeowner Charged After Fatally Shooting Burglar: Prosecutor

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, MI — An Oakland County man is facing charges after prosecutors said he fatally shot a burglar earlier this summer.

Prosecutors said 17-year-old Sivan Wilson was with a group of people who broke into a detached garage at a home in the 9000 block of Mandon Drive in White Lake Township at 1 a.m. on July 8.

The homeowner, 24-year-old Dayton Knapton, was alerted through a video surveillance system, prosecutors said.

Knapton exited his house with a 9mm semiautomatic handgun and fired two shots into the garage through a windowless locked door, prosecutors said.

As the burglars ran away from his house, Knapton shot at them five more times, prosecutors said.

Knapton then went back inside his house and reloaded the gun before returning to the garage, prosecutors said.

Investigators determined that Wilson was struck by a bullet Knapton fired through a locked garage door. He ran away with the group of burglars, but prosecutors said he wasn't taken for medical help for about half an hour. Another teen was also injured in the shooting, prosecutors said.

Medical officials eventually found the two teens suffering from gunshot wounds near Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township, but Wilson died from his injuries, Prosecutors said.

Knapton was charged with manslaughter, assault with intent to do great bodily harm and two counts of using a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was placed in jail and given a $200,000 bond.

If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter charge and up to 10 years in prison for using a firearm during a felony.

Matthew Grinage, 21, and four minors were charged with breaking and entering in connection with the attempted garage burglary. The crime carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said owning a firearm comes with a "profound responsibility."

"Our office worked closely with law enforcement to review the evidence, including the obvious mitigating factors, which led us to these charges," McDonald said. "We believe the evidence demonstrates this defendant crossed the line by firing outside his home at fleeing persons. His actions not only took a life, but potentially endangered the surrounding community by firing his weapon into the night."