The following vignettes describe the circumstances for killings not ruled self-defense by private individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns. The incidents below all occurred in Delaware. The descriptions include the current, known status of any charges filed against the concealed carry killer as reported by news sources as well as noting instances where the perpetrator committed suicide.
The Violence Policy Center welcomes any new information regarding the status of any case (with verifiable source(s)). Use this link to contact the VPC: http://www.vpc.org/contact.htm.
Concealed Handgun Permit Holder: Dean Sutton Jr. CONVICTED
Date: April 2, 2021
People Killed: 1
Circumstances: On April 2, 2021, concealed carry permit holder Dean Sutton Jr., 34, shot and killed Larry Porter, 44, following a fight with Porter and Porter’s son. During the fight, Sutton produced a gun, which caused Porter’s son to flee. Sutton fired multiple rounds as the son ran away. Sutton then turned to Porter, who backed away, saying, “no.” Sutton fired three times at Porter, fatally wounding him. Sutton claimed that he acted in self-defense. Prosecutors argued that Sutton lacked remorse and displayed excessive cruelty in killing Porter, noting that Sutton shot Porter a final time after his body was motionless and that he did not attempt to render aid to Porter as he was dying. Prosecutors also referenced social media posts that illustrated that Sutton believed his permit to carry a concealed firearm was a “license to kill.” Sutton was convicted of manslaughter and reckless endangering 1st degree and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Sutton was also involved in another fatal shooting in the killing of a man outside a bar in November 2020. Sutton also claimed that he acted in self-defense in that incident which is still under investigation.
Source: “DOJ secures decade in prison for Delaware man in fatal shooting – State of Delaware News,” news.delaware.gov, September 11, 2023; “Wilmington fight in 2020 that ended in fatal shooting lands man 10-year prison sentence,” delawareonline.com, September 1, 2023.