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.

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.