A father in Prudenville heard a commotion toward the back of his house on Wednesday night and walked in on two males inside his 15-year-old son's bedroom, one of them pointing a handgun at the boy's head. What followed was a physical struggle between the father and the armed intruder, a foot chase, gunfire outside the home, and the eventual arrest of two 14-year-old boys now facing charges.
Shots Fired as Suspects Fled Sheridan Drive Home
The Roscommon County Sheriff's Office was called to a residence on Sheridan Drive in Prudenville on Wednesday night for a report of shots fired, according to WSMH. Investigators say the homeowner engaged in a physical altercation with the armed suspect after discovering him and a second male in his son's bedroom, and both suspects then fled the residence on foot, allegedly firing shots outside as they ran. Police later recovered the handgun used during the break-in, and two 14-year-old boys were taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Investigators say the suspects were known to the 15-year-old victim, and the station's report notes that officials believe there is no additional risk to community safety at this time. The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details about how the suspects entered the home or what led to the confrontation have been released.
Charges Reflect Weapon Enhancements Under Michigan Law
The Roscommon County Prosecutor's Office authorized juvenile petitions against both 14-year-olds, charging each with first-degree home invasion, assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of felony firearm, and reckless use of a firearm. First-degree home invasion under Michigan Penal Code MCL 750.110a is a Class B felony that can carry up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000, according to a legal analysis from Kershaw, Vititoe & Jedinak, PLC, and trial judges have discretion to stack sentences consecutively for any accompanying felony committed during the same break-in.
The felony firearm counts carry their own weight independent of the underlying charges. Under Michigan's felony firearm statute, MCL 750.227b, carrying or possessing a firearm during a felony triggers a mandatory flat two-year prison term for a first offense, per the Neumann Law Group. That sentence cannot be suspended or served on probation, and Michigan law requires it be served consecutively to, and before, any sentence for the underlying felony, according to the Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan.
The assault with a dangerous weapon charge, commonly called felonious assault, is a Class F felony under Michigan Compiled Laws § 750.82 punishable by up to four years in prison and a $2,000 fine, as detailed by Shelton Legal Services. A Michigan felonious-assault conviction requires a dangerous-weapon assault, the required intent, and the ability or apparent ability to commit a battery; actual contact is not required. The reckless use of a firearm charge is a misdemeanor under Michigan Compiled Laws § 752.863a, carrying up to 90 days in jail and a $500 fine, per the Hills Law Office, and convictions under that section can also trigger a court-ordered suspension of state hunting privileges for up to three years.
Why the Case Stayed in Family Court
The Roscommon County Prosecutor's Office authorized juvenile petitions against both 14-year-olds. The petitions place the case in the juvenile delinquency system, though prosecutors may later pursue formal waiver proceedings, according to materials from Wayne County Defender Training.
That decision fits within Michigan's broader shift on juvenile justice. The state's Raise the Age reform took effect on October 1, 2021, expanding juvenile court jurisdiction to include 17-year-olds who had previously been treated automatically as adults, according to the Michigan Legislature's own bill analysis. The reform was designed to route younger offenders through rehabilitative programs while preserving prosecutors' authority to seek adult waivers for violent acts committed by minors 14 and older, per a separate legislative analysis.
Serious Cases in Roscommon County
Prudenville is in Roscommon County, where serious violent crimes have also occurred. In August 2024, Roscommon County sheriff's deputies arrested a 60-year-old man on a first-degree homicide charge after his 95-year-old mother was fatally beaten in her garage apartment in Denton Township, as Hoodline reported at the time.
