NORFOLK, Virginia — The man who allegedly shot and killed a teen in Norfolk returned to court Wednesday to see if he's competent to stand trial.
Albert Sutton was supposed to have a preliminary hearing Wednesday morning. Instead, a Norfolk judge reviewed a report from Sutton's competency evaluation.
Sutton faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless handling of a firearm after police say he shot and killed 14-year-old Amir Burnett, a Norview Middle School student.
According to court documents, Sutton told police he was with a group of teens showing them his gun at the Crown Point Townhomes the afternoon of September 2nd. He said a round accidentally went off as he put his gun in his waistband. A bullet hit Burnett in the back. Burnett later died at the hospital.
At a September hearing, prosecutors told the judge Sutton first told officers one of the teenagers accidentally fired the gun but later admitted he had the gun when it went off.
Wednesday morning, a judge reviewed a doctor’s notes following Sutton’s December 1st competency evaluation. The judge said the doctor advises Sutton needs treatment which he says can be done at the Norfolk City Jail.
The judge told Sutton someone will visit him in the jail and help him so that Sutton can start working with his lawyer on the case. The judge said once Sutton is quote ‘restored,’ lawyers can set up a preliminary hearing date.
Following the hearing, Sutton's lawyer had no comment about the report. The next court hearing is set for February 15.