Burlington Man Sentenced for Deadly Pizzeria Stabbing

Von Simmonds receives 17.5 years in prison for killing Abubakar Sharrif in downtown restaurant fight

Apr. 8, 2026 at 10:56pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a kitchen knife against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, creating a stark, gritty, and investigative visual representation of the weapon used in a deadly restaurant stabbing.A single kitchen knife, the weapon used in a deadly restaurant stabbing, becomes the focus of a stark, investigative visual that captures the grim reality of the crime.Burlington Today

A Burlington man, Von Simmonds, has been sentenced to at least 17.5 years in prison for the 2022 stabbing death of Abubakar Sharrif inside a downtown pizzeria. Simmonds was convicted of second-degree murder last year after a jury rejected his claim of self-defense. The incident stemmed from a fight that broke out inside Piesanos restaurant on Main Street, where Sharrif was allegedly trying to break up the brawl when Simmonds stabbed him with a kitchen knife.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing concerns about violence and public safety in downtown Burlington, as well as the challenges of self-defense claims in cases of deadly force. The victim's family also spoke about the tragedy of losing a young refugee who had come to the U.S. seeking a better life.

The details

According to court documents, a restaurant worker said there were around 10 people inside Piesanos when a fight broke out. Video footage showed Sharrif, 23, appeared to be trying to calm the situation when Simmonds, 43, stabbed him with a kitchen knife. Simmonds argued he acted in self-defense, fearing for his own safety and that of a friend, but the jury rejected that claim. Judge John Pacht said Simmonds acted with 'reckless disregard' that led to the tragic death.

  • The incident occurred on December 4, 2022 inside Piesanos restaurant in downtown Burlington.
  • Simmonds was convicted of second-degree murder in 2025.
  • Simmonds was sentenced on April 8, 2026 to 20 years to life in prison, with 17.5 years to serve.

The players

Von Simmonds

A 43-year-old Burlington resident who was convicted of second-degree murder for the 2022 stabbing death of Abubakar Sharrif inside a downtown restaurant. Simmonds had previous convictions for federal drug offenses and was on supervised release at the time of the incident.

Abubakar Sharrif

A 23-year-old Burlington resident who was killed in the 2022 stabbing incident inside Piesanos restaurant. Sharrif was a refugee from Kenya who had come to the U.S. with his family seeking safety and opportunity.

Judge John Pacht

The judge who sentenced Von Simmonds to 20 years to life in prison, with 17.5 years to serve, for the second-degree murder conviction.

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What they’re saying

“Justice cannot bring him back. Justice would be him being here today, raising his daughter, standing by my side at significant moments, being an uncle to my baby and continuing to make our family proud.”

— Lulé Aden, Victim's sister

“The videos show that Mr. Sharrif was never a violent participant in this conflict. Not only did he not offer any harm, he tried to stop the violence and was rewarded for his trouble with murder.”

— Andrew McFarlin, Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney

What’s next

The judge's sentence of 20 years to life, with 17.5 years to serve, will now go through the appeals process. Simmonds' attorney has indicated he plans to appeal the conviction and sentence.

The takeaway

This tragic case underscores the ongoing challenges of violence and public safety in downtown Burlington, as well as the complex legal issues around self-defense claims in deadly force incidents. The victim's family's poignant statements highlight the human toll of such senseless acts.