Left: Shane M. Sutton allegedly holding a firearm around a group of Idaho teens (Life in Idaho Falls/Facebook). Right: Shane M. Sutton (Bonneville County Jail).
A 37-year-old man in Idaho is accused of threatening to kill a group of teenagers, allegedly pulling out a handgun, racking the slide and aiming the weapon at them during an argument over fireworks at a public park.
Shane Michael Sutton was taken into custody this week and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the July 13 confrontation at McCowin Park in Ammon, court records show.
The incident unfolded around 11 p.m. near the park's pickleball courts when Bonneville County sheriff's deputies responded to reports of a man pointing a gun at a group of people, EastIdahoNews.com reported.
According to court documents, deputies were met by several juveniles who said an unknown man confronted them over fireworks before the encounter escalated.
The teens told investigators Sutton yelled, "I will f—ing kill you," before pulling a handgun from his waistband, racking the slide and pointing the weapon directly at them, according to the charging documents.
Sutton had already left the park by the time deputies arrived, but other officers located him a short time later at a nearby gas station and arrested him without incident, Idaho Falls ABC and CBS affiliate KIFI reported.
Investigators also obtained cellphone video recorded during the confrontation. According to court documents cited by EastIdahoNews.com, deputies reviewed footage that allegedly captured Sutton shouting, "You won't do s—, I will f—ing kill you," before brandishing the handgun.
The outlet also obtained video showing what appears to be Sutton lifting his shirt, grabbing the pistol from his waistband and pulling back the slide, producing an audible click. Additional footage reportedly shows him walking away while still holding the firearm.
One of the teenagers, Yaser Elabed, told EastIdahoNews.com that the confrontation began after Sutton accused the group of setting off a firework that struck his girlfriend.
Elabed said Sutton "came in hot," and alleged the man pushed members of the group when they tried to calm the situation before pulling the gun.
"I was afraid," Elabed told the outlet. "He was ready to like shoot at us."
No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
A judge set Sutton's bond at $75,000 during his arraignment and ordered him to return to court for a preliminary hearing on July 28, records show.
Each aggravated assault charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine if Sutton is convicted. Court records do not list an attorney for Sutton.