Manslaughter case involving death of Norview MS student heading to grand jury
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Albert Sutton, 27, waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday morning in Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and his manslaughter case will go to a grand jury.
Sutton has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a gun in the September death of Amir Burnette, 14.
Previously: Teen killed in Norfolk shooting; man charged with involuntary manslaughter
The Norview Middle School eighth-grader was with Sutton Sunday afternoon, Sept. 3 on Wyngate Drive in the Crown Point neighborhood. Police said Sutton’s gun went off — and he claimed it was a mistake and an accident.
Amir never had a chance.
He was pronounced dead at Sentara Norfolk General within an hour. A single bullet had entered his chest and went through his heart in a downward path.
But at age 14, Amir was not the only young person to see Sutton’s gun that day. Court documents state that Sutton showed the gun to 11 juveniles, and initially denied he was the shooter, but later cooperated with investigators.
Other court papers show that a psychologist determined in December that Sutton was incompetent and could not understand the court process or assist in his defense.
However, after treatment through Norfolk Community Services, a clinical psychologist determined in February that Sutton is now competent to stand trial.
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