A girl managed to escape her kidnapper in Alpena, Michigan thanks to the quick actions of her brother, who confronted the attacker.

The 8-year-old girl was picking mushrooms in the backyard of her home on Wednesday when a stranger came out of the bushes and grabbed her, local police reported in a statement sent to AFP on Monday.

However, the little girl fought back and managed to free herself from the man's grip.

Her 13-year-old brother witnessed the scene from a distance and used a slingshot to shoot at the attacker. The man received impacts to the head and chest and fled.

Police officers searched the neighborhood and ended up arresting a suspect with "injuries compatible with those caused by a slingshot to the head and chest," the statement said.

The name of the 17-year-old who attempted to kidnap the girl has not been released. However, authorities announced that he would be tried as an adult on a charge of attempted kidnapping/enticement of children, as well as charges of assault and battery.