Homeowner, suspects facing charges after teen killed in alleged Oakland County garage break-in

Shooting happened in White Lake Township on July 8

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Charges have been filed against an Oakland County homeowner who shot at a group of people allegedly breaking into his detached garage, killing one teen and injuring another. A 21-year-old and four minors also face charges in the break-in, officials said.

Dayton Knapton, 24, of White Lake Township, has been charged with manslaughter (punishable by up to 15 years in prison and/or a $7,500 fine), assault with intent to do great bodily harm (up 10 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine), and two counts of felony firearm (up to 2 years in prison, served consecutively) in connection with the death of 17-year-old Sivan Wilson and with shooting another teen in the leg, causing injury.

Matthew Grinage, 21, and four minors have been charged with breaking and entering (punishable by up to 10 years in prison) in connection with the attempted garage burglary, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

The suspects allegedly broke into Knapton’s garage at about 1 a.m. on July 8, 2025.

When this happened, Knapton left his house with a 9mm semiautomatic gun and allegedly fired two shots through the windowless, locked garage door.

As the suspects ran away from his house, Knapton allegedly shot at them five more times.

After that, he allegedly ran back inside his house, reloaded his gun, and then went back outside.

The victim, Wilson, allegedly fled the scene with the other suspects, but did not get medical care for about 30 minutes, and died from their injuries, officials said.

Authorities said the 17-year-old was struck by a bullet that was fired through the locked door.

“The rights to own firearms and protect one’s family and home are fundamental. Those important rights also come with profound responsibility,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald. “Our office worked closely with law enforcement to review the evidence, including the obvious mitigating factors, which led us to these charges. 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.”

“It just doesn’t make sense,” Armani Madden, Wilson’s sister, said. “It doesn’t make sense, and it hurts a lot. I think the way they went about it — it could have been done better.”

Shawn Madden, Sivan’s father, said that he hadn’t heard that his son was shot while inside Knapton’s garage.

“Sivan was running away and got shot,” Wilson’s father said. “I never heard anything about him getting shot in the garage.”

Armani said she and Sivan were really close, “so it hurts a lot.”

“And I would’ve never expected this to happen to him,” Armani said. “He had a lot of dreams and aspirations.”

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2025/11/07/homeowner-suspects-facing-charges-after-teen-killed-during-alleged-oakland-county-garage-break-in/

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5798938&forum_id=2Firm#49436225)

I’d say this is where he fucked up

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5798938&forum_id=2Firm#49436242)