Smoking gun

A Norfolk, Virginia, man this week pleaded guilty in the accidental fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy last year in a home where he was watching as many as a dozen children. The Virginian-Pilot reports Albert J. Sutton, 27, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm for the incident that occurred Sept. 3, 2023. His sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 25.

The Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney reports the shooting occurred in a Norfolk home where Sutton was watching at least a dozen kids while their parents ran errands. Sutton had a gun with him and for some unknown reason, decided while he had an audience of children ranging in age from toddlers to teens that he was responsible watching while their parents were away, was a good time to pull out the gun he was carrying and show it to some of them.

The group was in an upstairs bedroom where Sutton was showing of his gun when he “accidentally pulled the trigger.” Amir Anthony Burnett, 14, was shot in the chest and later pronounced dead, the article reports. Meanwhile, Sutton apparently did call 911, but only after he fled the home, leaving all of the children unsupervised and left to contend with a bleeding and dying peer.

Sutton was apprehended later that day and “initially tried to blame one of the children for shooting” Burnett. Under questioning, he later confessed to “mistakenly firing” the gun while attempting to not reholster it but shove it back in his waistband. Sutton has remained in jail without bond since his arrest nearly a year ago.

A View to Responsibility

There is so much to unpack in this tragedy that could have so easily been avoided.

Possessing and carrying a firearm is absolutely every individual’s right under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, but with that right, comes considerable responsibility. The first, learn how to safely handle the gun as well as safely shoot it. That includes responsibly carrying the gun as well, in a holster or a case, not your waistband which can be dangerous as the trigger and trigger guard are not protected in a waistband and a gun can easily fall out or slide down the leg of your pants creating potential for an accidental discharge. Just ask former NFL player Plaxico Burress how that worked out for him and the 2008 New York Giants. 

There are some great holsters that will easily slip inside your waistband and stay in place if you like that style of carry while at the same time keeping the gun securely in place and protected.

Albert J. Sutton (Norfolk Police Dept. Photo)

In this case, Sutton, appears to have had his finger on the trigger, another serious breach of gun safety. Never put your finger on the trigger until you are aiming at your target and ready to safely shoot…and know the background and foreground around your target to ensure it is safe to shoot before firing. This is basic firearms safety protocol every gun owner should know and always practice without fail.

Lastly, given the concerns about firearms in our society, concerns which cases like this unfortunately add legitimacy, just have a little respect and consideration. No matter how ardent a 2A supporter and gun owner we may be, we all know there are plenty of parents out there who lack that same enthusiasm and wouldn’t appreciate people handling guns around their children, particularly when they are not present, you haven’t asked their permission or you aren’t heading up an organized gun safety or range event. 

This should go without saying, but don’t pull a gun out and begin showing it off when you’re the freaking babysitter. We all get that you’re “super cool” carrying a gun but show some restraint around children who aren’t yours. Want to win their admiration and affection? Play ball or some games with them. Give them a damn snack, maybe some Cheetos and don’t make them wipe their hands or a big bottle of soda they can guzzle down, or if you want to keep things healthy, an apple.

Firearms ownership is a right in this country, but if we don’t also treat it with responsibility, we’re going to give those who seek to chip away at that right more tools to do it with. Fortunately, most gun owners reading this do understand safety and know how to properly handle a firearm. But it only takes one bad apple—and certainly a situation as tragic as this one—to ruin things for everybody, especially that kid who should still be with us and his family who loved him. 

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53 COMMENTS

  1. So he murdered Amir? Shoved his gat in his waistband gangster style? So parents trusted HIM & not the 14 year old? Shades of Chiraq(per Spike Lee)🙄😧

    • A 14 year old kid doesn’t need a baby sitter. When I was a kid, 14 to 18 year old kids WERE the babysitters, most often. There’s a lot wrong with our society, and teenagers having baby sitters only scratches shallowly at the surface.

      • Correct, Paul. I watched my neighbors kids when I was 12. The gig was up when my sister told her friend, who told her mom, who told my neighbor that we were watching R rated movies on HBO. Well. You did invite a 12-year-old boy to watch your kids haha.

        • “we were watching R rated movies on HBO“

          Let me get this straight, you were responsible for younger children and were grooming them by showing them porn on TV while their parents were away?

          I’m not sure you should mention that on this forum.

          • If it happened the way you say, and we know it did not, then he would be a prime recruit for your jack booted storm troopers, the antifa.

            • @jwm
              It’s funny how his way of “getting” me is to accuse me of being what the democrats, including Miner, routinely defend. It’s his way of admitting that, deep down, he knows that behavior is wrong. I’ll remember that.

          • Did you catch the part where I said I was 12? I never claimed to be an angel. I was mostly there to make sure no one died or got injured. Mission accomplished. The boys were 7 and 9.

          • Did you catch the part where I said I was 12? I never claimed to be an angel. I was mostly there to make sure no one died or got injured. Mission accomplished. The boys were 7 and 9. I remember watching one of the Halloween movies when I was 9 (R rated).

            They didn’t play porn at 9 pm on HBO in the ’80s. I had basic cable at home. A movie channel was a big deal back then.

    • That was meant as sarcasm as we all know those few guys out there who think because they own a gun they are John Wick or someone. Never the case. If you’re a loser without a gun and go get a gun, then you’re just a loser with a gun. Just wanted to make sure that point was clear that I actually think this guy was “super cool.” Haha. Far from it.

  3. A clear example of negligence that cost a human life.
    Sad indeed. I can only imagine how the parents feel.

  4. RE: “That includes responsibly carrying the gun as well, in a holster or a case, not your waistband which can be dangerous as the trigger and trigger guard are not protected in a waistband and a gun can easily fall out or slide down the leg of your pants creating potential for an accidental discharge.”

    I was ridiculed by certain worthless Gun talking blowbags after providing instructions for making a trigger plug from the fat bottom of a tire valve stem specifically for firearms without a manual safety. Anyone who cuts corners and barks at firearm safety is an obvious accident waiting to happen, show them the door.

    • Instead of shoving some nonsense in your trigger, in a ridiculous attempt to make a safety how about learning some firearm safety?
      Or get a real gun

        • Aawwww did I hurt your little feelings?
          or you got a thing for Debbie now?
          Better watch out I think Geoff is trying to hit that. Eeewwwwww sorry Geoff!
          As far as guns I know what I know and you don’t know what you don’t know.

      • hey stupid bs…Unless you can present a better way to prevent a trigger AD on a firearm without a manual safety you can take your reply and shove it back up your pathetic ignorant behind.

        • The best way to prevent a negligent discharge is pay attention to what your doing not some stop gap bs. Literally.

        • Manual safeties are for noobies and the less intelligent. The only effective safety, especially if you want to be prepared, is the intelligent use of your trigger finger, and a proper holster that covers the trigger.

          • trigger finger johnnyboy…You are not only a bigot you are a dumbfuk accident waiting to happen. Any object that exerts force on a trigger while the firearm is stationary or in motion can cause an AD. In other words dumbfuk no matter how sharp you think you are sht happens and shtheads like you and the tired bs twerp are the first kind of crybaby blowbags to be apologizing and trying to explain to detectives how that projectile from your firearm just on its own struck some bystander or preferably…yourselves.

            Both of you grasping at straws shtheads failed to post a better way to prevent a trigger AD for firearms without a manual safety. And somehow you two shtheads think you have a podium…pathetic.

            • I did post a better way. Pay attention to what you are doing. I understand that may be beyond your ability. Most people are able to learn the safe operation of a particular gun. If you don’t feel safe with it you have the wrong gun. Sell it and get something different. There’s lots to choose from

              • I did post a better way. Pay attention to what you are doing. I understand that may be beyond your ability. Most people are able to learn the safe operation of a particular gun. If you don’t feel safe with it you have the wrong gun. Sell it and get something different. There’s lots to choose from.
                Almost forgot, I don’t explain anything to detectives. That’s what my attorney is for.
                and I own holsters. lots of them actually.
                it’s sometimes hard to find that goldilocks holster that’s just right.

              • bs twerp…Spinning won’t save you from the fact you are as dumb as a box of rocks. You have said more than enough to Confirm you are an accident waiting to happen and anyone around you and firearms is subject to your stupidity.

                You know who gets selected Range Master by people who are LE, Military, etc? That’s little me. And how is that you ask? Because they know, their families know that I will see to it they go home in the same condition they arrived. The best thing for you and johnnyboy to do is stfu and listen up or go pound sand.

              • Deb I’ve spun nothing. I said your butt plug idea is ridiculous. Paying attention to what you are doing is the best way to stay safe. That’s my opinion and you certainly won’t change my mind. How am I an accident waiting to happen? YOU are the one fumbling around with a foreign object jammed in the trigger of a gun.
                Were I a ro and I saw you doing that on my range you would be told to leave.

              • Deb is it your great turkish guns that in your own words need work right out of the box, that are so unsafe you need to jam something in the trigger?
                The safety minded among us want to know.

        • “a better way to prevent a trigger AD on a firearm without a manual safety“

          Yep, dump those dangerous striker fired handguns.

        • Any article of nonessential FOD floating around your pocket with your pistol is an invitation to an accidental discharge. A better way is to use a holster that encloses the trigger.

    • Seems to me that the idea of a trigger block would be a good idea for some folk. The big end of a valve stem seems like a good idea and would work for both left and right handed shooters. Here is a link to a commercially made trigger block: https://www.clipdraw.com/product/4rl-saf-t-blok/
      The tire valve stem is a more economical solution especially if one can be had for nothing at a tire shop.

      At my age and mental acuteness I carry with an empty chamber for my safety and the safety of others. It is important that POTG carry as they see fit relative to safety. Keep in mind that every POTG are not young and full of panther piss. (I know carrying with an empty chamber is not the best, but I want to avoid to any form of negligent discharge on my part).

    • I wouldn’t be willing to rely on an expedient trigger block fabricated from a tire valve. However; I do have a powerful preference for Third Generation, Smith and Wesson, semiautomatic pistols. Aside from being equipped with a bullet proof manual safety that rotates the firing pin out if alignment with the cartridge primer, they have a magazine disconnect safety. I understand that some TacticalCoolFools are phobic that they will neglect to take the safety off when they might have to shoot someone. However; that is what training and practice are for. Not even I have had to shoot so many people that that microscopic split second that is required to rotate the safety as I draw my pistol has outweighed the advantages of reducing the risk of an accidental discharge. This is especially true if an untrained child or cop were to gain access to my pistol.

      • Have firearms on either side of that spectrum for various uses. Training for any of them is a good idea even if it is just constant practice of how to draw present and holster/store by whatever means without doing anything stupid. Can’t see the purpose of the trigger block but may work for some and see how I feel about it in 40 years.

      • expedient elmer…Outside of carrying an empty chamber what additional safety factor would you rely on if the firearm had no manual safety? Please advise.
        By your own rhetoric you have never made or used a trigger plug. If you had you’d know there is nothing expedient about a trigger plug as many require bench grinder shaping, fitting, testing, etc. There is a company that makes a plug specifically for Glock, they make a lot money off it as they should. I’ve used the same stem plug in my Glock 20 for many years. I can push it out and be on trigger quicker than you can release a manual safety.

  5. This is the fault of the parents for entrusting their children to this subpar human. I’m sure he was a bargain.

  6. Following a hunch, I clicked on the link and looked at the picture of Mr. Sutton.

    Uh huh. Yep. Makes total sense, now.

    • Most parents wouldn’t be comfortable leaving their children with a man, much less a man who’s watching the entire neighborhood. It’s really odd. The parents are at fault here for using bad judgement.

    • Right? No amount of lecturing about responsibility would have made any difference. All parties involved were living on the lifetime bad choices plan of success. The only way out being a professional sports contract but that just makes you rich as you continue to make bad choices.

      • “The only way out being a professional sports contract …

        Or a rap star…

        “He was a good boy. He was turning his life around. He wanted to be a rap star …”

    • yeah, forgot to add that to the story when I hit publish. It’s added now for all to see!

  8. Obviously; this imbecile learned his firearms handling skills from the same gun guru that trains United States Secret Service agents. I remain amazed that President Trump was accidentally shot by his own security detail. The only nice thing that I can say about those large ladies is that they could probably stop a .50 BMG round if they had to.

  9. Most parents of our present USA are utterly incompetent.

    Time to start testing for competence, work ethic and personality traits.
    Require a license prior to allowing a hospital birth.

    • Most Americans are so dumb if you gave them $100 to buy groceries for a healthy meal, they wouldn’t be able to do it, let alone prepare it. I don’t blame poor education, or “inequality,” or even the government. Stupidity is the downfall of this nation.

  11. We need to stop protecting stupid people from themselves mit is dumbing down the gene pool
    Start by takingbthev a warning tables by off of all 5 gallon buckets!

  12. Just think of it as evolution in action.
    Just culling the gene pool and purging the voter registration rolls of useless idiots.
    Of course it is inevitable that the deceased will be voting posthumously for Harris in the 2024 election.

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