WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A Pontiac teen was shot and killed in White Lake Township during a garage break-in, and now, four months later, the homeowner accused of shooting him has been charged.
But his family said the charges have them confused.
“It just doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense, and it hurts a lot,” Armani Madden, Sivan Wilson’s sister, said. “I think the way they went about it — it could have been done better.”
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.
Wilson’s family said they want Knapton charged with murder.
“It doesn’t make sense that it wasn’t done out of malice and for them to charge him with manslaughter when everything in the report suggests that it was malicious intent,” Armani said.
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.
They allegedly broke into Knapton’s detached 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.
“Sivan was running away and got shot,” Wilson’s father, Shawn Madden, said. “I never heard anything about him getting shot in the garage.”
Prosecutors said the 17-year-old was struck by a bullet that was fired through the locked door.
“We had a really close connection, so it hurts a lot,” Armani said. “And I would’ve never expected this to happen to him. He had a lot of dreams and aspirations.”
Local 4 also spoke to Knapton’s defense attorney, Dov Lustig, who does not believe Knapton should have ever been charged.
Lustig reiterated that Knapton is a 24-year-old homeowner who works every day and has a legally registered firearm.
He said Knapton’s home was broken into two times before and was only told by Whitelake Township Police to get a beefier security system — so he did.
On that night, Lustig said Knapton grabbed his weapon in clear self-defense. He said Knapton also warned them to “get the f**k out, get the f**k out.”
“He didn’t actually see anyone...and I believe as soon as they come out, he is startled, and that is when he fired the bullets. This is a case of stone self-defense,” Lustig said.
Statement from Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office
“The rights to own firearms and protect one’s family and home are fundamental. Those important rights also come with profound responsibility. 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.”
Statement from Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald