NORFOLK, Va. — A Norfolk man was sentenced to five years in prison Friday on charges of involuntary manslaughter and recklessly handling a firearm.
In September of 2023, Albert James Sutton, 27, was supervising a group of around 12 children when he was showing off a gun and unintentionally shot 14-year-old Amir Burnett.
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After shooting Burnett, Sutton fled the home. Norfolk police arrived shortly after and found a group of unsupervised children and Burnett was unresponsive.
Burnett died later as a result of his injuries.
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“The death of Amir Burnett was not just a tragic accident; it was also a crime,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “The criminal negligence Mr. Sutton engaged in cost a child his life and a family their child, and it caused other children to see a friend die."
