NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — 19-year-old Richard Burton pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Tuesday for malicious wounding after he shot his friend last year, a release states.
On March 30, 2023, Burton got in a fight with a longtime friend after returning a rental car on East Little Creek Road. The victim said Burton was acting unusual that day. What started as a verbal argument in the car turned physical. Burton exited the driver’s seat and went inside the business. When he came back outside, Burton pulled out a gun and shot at his friend who was still in the car.
The bullet hit the victim in his arm, and he received medical assistance almost immediately. The entire incident was captured on video by surveillance cameras inside and outside the business.
Burton pleaded guilty to malicious wounding under a plea agreement and received an active prison sentence of three years and two months, with an additional one year and 10 months suspended on the condition that Burton complete three years of uniform good behavior and an indefinite period of supervised probation following his release.
“Mr. Burton had no reason to shoot the victim,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “This dangerous behavior merits a prison sentence, and we will continue to prosecute the people who commit gun violence in Norfolk.”
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