Delaware News

DOJ Secures Decade In Prison For Delaware Man In Fatal Shooting

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, September 11, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A Wilmington man has been sentenced to prison time for a fatal shooting. On September 1, 2023, Dean Sutton Jr. was sentenced to ten years in prison by a Superior Court Judge for convictions of Manslaughter and Reckless Endangering 1st Degree following an investigation into a 2021 shooting. At trial, Sutton claimed to have acted in self-defense.

On April 2nd, 2021, Sutton was involved with his cousin in a physical fight against Larry Porter and Porter’s son in Wilmington’s Brandywine Village neighborhood. During the fight, Sutton pulled out and fired a gun, causing Porter’s son to flee. Sutton fired multiple rounds at the son as he ran away. Porter backed away when the gun was first fired. As Sutton turned his attention to Porter, Porter again backed off saying “no.” Sutton fired at Porter three times, fatally wounding him. 

“This is another devastating example of senseless gun violence,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “What started as a fist fight needlessly ended with the loss of life. I am thankful to our prosecutors and the Wilmington Police for their great work in achieving this result.” 

“I am proud and appreciative of the dedication of our investigators, who worked alongside prosecutors to bring about an arrest and prosecution in this case,” said Chief Wilfredo Campos. “I hope this sentencing can bring about some degree of comfort and closure to the family of Mr. Porter, and to our community.”

Before this April 2021 shooting, Sutton had been involved in another fatal shooting in November of 2020, in the killing of a man outside a bar in Newark, DE, in which he also claimed he acted in self-defense. That shooting is still under investigation. 

Deputy Attorneys General John Downs and Nichole Warner were the prosecutors on this trial, with the assistance of Paralegal Lisa Loikith and Social Workers Carol Pineault and Berlinetta Wright and Det. Brandon Mosley of the Wilmington Police Department. 

 

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.

DOJ Secures Decade In Prison For Delaware Man In Fatal Shooting

Department of Justice Press Releases | Date Posted: Monday, September 11, 2023


Navy blue background featuring the Delaware state seal in the center

A Wilmington man has been sentenced to prison time for a fatal shooting. On September 1, 2023, Dean Sutton Jr. was sentenced to ten years in prison by a Superior Court Judge for convictions of Manslaughter and Reckless Endangering 1st Degree following an investigation into a 2021 shooting. At trial, Sutton claimed to have acted in self-defense.

On April 2nd, 2021, Sutton was involved with his cousin in a physical fight against Larry Porter and Porter’s son in Wilmington’s Brandywine Village neighborhood. During the fight, Sutton pulled out and fired a gun, causing Porter’s son to flee. Sutton fired multiple rounds at the son as he ran away. Porter backed away when the gun was first fired. As Sutton turned his attention to Porter, Porter again backed off saying “no.” Sutton fired at Porter three times, fatally wounding him. 

“This is another devastating example of senseless gun violence,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “What started as a fist fight needlessly ended with the loss of life. I am thankful to our prosecutors and the Wilmington Police for their great work in achieving this result.” 

“I am proud and appreciative of the dedication of our investigators, who worked alongside prosecutors to bring about an arrest and prosecution in this case,” said Chief Wilfredo Campos. “I hope this sentencing can bring about some degree of comfort and closure to the family of Mr. Porter, and to our community.”

Before this April 2021 shooting, Sutton had been involved in another fatal shooting in November of 2020, in the killing of a man outside a bar in Newark, DE, in which he also claimed he acted in self-defense. That shooting is still under investigation. 

Deputy Attorneys General John Downs and Nichole Warner were the prosecutors on this trial, with the assistance of Paralegal Lisa Loikith and Social Workers Carol Pineault and Berlinetta Wright and Det. Brandon Mosley of the Wilmington Police Department. 

 

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.