A 16-year-old boy who shot his stepfather through a bedroom door following an argument at an east Vancouver home was sentenced Friday to more than four years in a juvenile facility.
Timothy E. Burks previously pleaded guilty to first-degree assault with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with the July 21 incident at a house in the Image neighborhood.
Burks, who was 15 at the time, was initially charged with first-degree attempted murder-domestic violence, reckless endangerment and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Those charges were amended, however, as part of a plea deal.
The physical altercation between Burks and his stepfather, Richard James Hilts, started over an argument over chores that weren’t completed, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Once the two were separated, Hilts took a 2-year-old child into the master bedroom with him and shut the door. Burks went into his bedroom and emerged with a gun. He then tried to push the master bedroom door open while yelling at Hilts to come out, the affidavit said. When Hilts didn’t, Burks cocked the gun and shot through the door one time, court records said.
Hilts was shot in the chest and taken to a hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Burks fled the house and was later apprehended with a second gun in his possession, Deputy Prosecutor Rachael Probstfeld said. Police didn’t recover the gun used in the shooting, she said.
During the Friday hearing, Hilts told the court how the incident has impacted him and the family.
“You see this?” he said to Burks, as he lifted his shirt to show his wound.
“You take this lesson and do what you’re supposed to do. … Hopefully, it will sink into your head,” Hilts said. “Rehabilitate yourself.”
Burks’ defense attorney, Michael Borge, said his client plans to take advantage of the programs in whatever juvenile facility he goes to.
Burks declined to make a statement.
Commissioner Jennifer Snider said this case is a perfect example of how far-reaching Burks’ actions were.
“This is serious, and you’re losing a lot because of the actions you chose to take,” she said.
She agreed to follow the attorneys’ recommendation of 213 weeks and a year of supervision after Burks is released. He was given credit for 142 days in custody.
