A 37-year-old Idaho man is facing serious felony charges after he allegedly pulled a handgun on a group of teenagers at a public park and threatened to kill them — all over a dispute about fireworks.
Shane Michael Sutton was arrested this week and charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following a confrontation at McCowin Park in Ammon, Idaho, on the night of July 13.
According to court documents, Bonneville County sheriff’s deputies were called to the park around 11 p.m. after reports of a man pointing a gun at a group of people near the pickleball courts.
When deputies arrived, several juveniles told them that a man had approached them over fireworks before the situation quickly spiraled. The teens said Sutton shouted, “I will f—ing kill you,” then reached into his waistband, pulled out a handgun, racked the slide and aimed it directly at them.
One of the teenagers, Yaser Elabed, said the man “came in hot” from the start — accusing the group of shooting off a firework that hit his girlfriend. Elabed said Sutton pushed members of the group when they tried to calm things down before drawing the weapon.
“I was afraid,” Elabed said. “He was ready to like shoot at us.”
Sutton had already left by the time deputies arrived, but was located shortly after at a nearby gas station and taken into custody without incident.
Investigators also reviewed cellphone footage recorded during the confrontation, which allegedly shows Sutton lifting his shirt, grabbing the pistol from his waistband, and pulling back the slide — producing an audible click — before walking away still holding the firearm.
No shots were fired and no injuries were reported.
A judge set Sutton’s bond at $75,000 and scheduled a preliminary hearing for July 28. Each of the three aggravated assault charges carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.