Stand Your Ground CHALLENGED — Homeowner Faces MANSLAUGHTER Charges

Masked figure peering through glass door at night.

A Michigan homeowner’s decision to defend his property has landed him in court, raising urgent questions about where self-defense rights end and prosecutorial overreach begins.

Quick Take

Homeowner Dayton Knapton faces felony charges after shooting at burglars fleeing his garage, killing 17-year-old Sivan Wilson
Prosecutor Karen McDonald claims Knapton “crossed the line” by firing at fleeing suspects, despite Michigan’s Stand Your Ground protections
The case exposes how progressive prosecutors weaponize self-defense laws against law-abiding citizens defending their homes and property
Legal experts debate whether Michigan’s self-defense statute adequately protects homeowners or if courts are narrowing constitutional protections

A Homeowner’s Nightmare Becomes a Legal Battleground

On July 8, 2025, around 1 a.m., Dayton Knapton’s security cameras captured seven individuals breaking into his detached garage in White Lake Township, Michigan. Knapton, a 24-year-old homeowner, responded by exiting his residence with a legally owned 9mm handgun and firing two shots through the locked, windowless garage door. As the burglars fled, he fired five additional shots before reloading and returning outside. One suspect, 17-year-old Sivan Wilson, was struck by a bullet and died approximately 30 minutes later without receiving immediate medical attention.

By November 2025, Knapton faced charges for manslaughter, assault with intent to do great bodily harm, and two counts of felony firearm. He was arraigned and released on a $200,000 bond. Meanwhile, five suspects, including 21-year-old Matthew Grinage and four minors, faced breaking and entering charges. The incident ignited fierce debate over Michigan’s self-defense laws and whether homeowners retain meaningful protections against criminals or face prosecution for defending their own property.

Prosecutor’s Overreach Threatens Constitutional Rights

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald’s handling of this case reveals a troubling pattern: progressive prosecutors narrowing self-defense protections to benefit criminals. McDonald stated that Knapton “crossed the line by firing outside his home at fleeing persons,” despite Michigan law permitting deadly force to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm. Her assertion that homeowners bear “profound responsibility” when exercising constitutional rights echoes anti-gun rhetoric designed to chill legitimate self-defense. This prosecutorial stance effectively punishes citizens for protecting their property while leaving burglars relatively unscathed.

Michigan’s Stand Your Ground Law Under Siege

Michigan’s self-defense statute allows individuals to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or sexual assault, with no duty to retreat in one’s own home or anywhere one has legal right to be. Yet prosecutors like McDonald are reinterpreting this law to criminalize homeowner responses. Legal experts note that Michigan’s statute does not explicitly prohibit force against fleeing suspects if the homeowner reasonably perceived an ongoing threat. By charging Knapton, McDonald sets a dangerous precedent: homeowners must calculate split-second decisions under life-or-death stress while facing potential felony prosecution if prosecutors disagree with their judgment.

This case reflects a broader assault on Second Amendment protections. When prosecutors weaponize self-defense laws against law-abiding citizens, they effectively disarm homeowners and invite criminals to target residential properties with impunity. The message sent to Michigan residents is clear: defending your home may cost you your freedom.