Man Pleads Guilty to Malicious Wounding of Friend, Sentenced to More Than 3 Years After 2023 Shooting

NORFOLK, Va. — Richard Montay Burton, 19, was convicted on Tuesday of malicious wounding and sentenced to three years and two months in prison after he pleaded guilty to shooting his friend last year.

On March 30, 2023, Mr. Burton and the victim — Mr. Burton’s longtime friend — drove together to a rental car center on East Little Creek Road to return the vehicle they were using. The victim recalled that Mr. Burton had been acting unusually that day, and the two argued verbally and, eventually, physically inside the car while parked outside the rental center. Mr. Burton, who had been driving, eventually exited the vehicle to go inside the business. Three minutes later, Mr. Burton came back outside, pulled out a firearm, and shot into the car at his friend. 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.

On Tuesday, Mr. Burton pleaded guilty to malicious wounding under a plea agreement, and Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. imposed an active prison sentence of three years and two months, with an additional one year and 10 months suspended on the condition that Mr. 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.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Melinda F. Seemar prosecuted Mr. Burton’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth.

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