A Wilmington man has been handed a ten-year prison sentence following his convictions for Manslaughter and Reckless Endangering 1st Degree.
Earlier this month a Superior Court Judge pronounced sentence Dean Sutton Jr., in connection to an incident that took place in Wilmington’s Brandywine Village neighborhood on April 2, 2021.
On that April day in 2021, Dean Sutton found himself involved in a physical altercation, alongside his cousin, Larry Porter, and Porter’s son. The confrontation turned deadly when Sutton pulled a firearm during the altercation according to prosecutors.
As the altercation unfolded, Sutton drew his weapon and discharged it, causing Porter’s son to flee the scene in an attempt to escape harm. Sutton fired multiple rounds in his direction officials said.
Officials said as Sutton shifted his focus to Porter, Porter backed away, saying “no”. Sutton fired at Porter three times, resulting in fatal injuries officials said.
In November of 2020, he was also implicated in another fatal shooting that occurred outside a bar in Newark. In both instances, Sutton claimed self-defense as his justification for using lethal force. The investigation into the November 2020 shooting remains ongoing, officials said Monday.
On April 2, 2021, the Wilmington Police Department responded to the 200 block of West 19th Street at approximately 9:01 p.m., where the shooting had taken place. At the scene, they discovered a 44-year-old Larry Porter fatally wounded.
Detective Brandon Mosley of the Criminal Investigations Division was tasked with leading the investigation into this incident. Through his investigative work, Mosley identified Dean Sutton as the primary suspect in the case.
Sutton originally faced charges including Murder (First Degree), Attempted Murder (First Degree), and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony and was held on $10M Cash Bond.