Cannon Hinnant’s Family, Community Speak Out After 5-Year-Old Shot And Killed By Neighbor

Cannon Hinnant's family and members of the community in Wilson, North Carolina, are speaking out following the death of the 5-year-old boy who was shot and killed by his neighbor earlier this month.

Darius Sessoms, 25, has been charged with first-degree murder in Cannon’s death and is being held without bond in the Wilson County jail. However, that has done little to ease the pain of the two families, who only live a few feet away from each other.

Carolyn Sessoms, the mother of Cannon’s killer, burst into tears as she told the News & Observer that her son shot the boy while he was high on drugs. Cannon had been riding his bike when he was killed.

“We think he had gotten hold of something. He was hallucinating. We tried to get the gun out of his hand, but he was so strong. He was so strong,” she explained.

Days after the shooting, Bonny Waddell, Cannon’s mother, took to Facebook to vent about her grief. However, her statement in which she admitted she would like to see her son’s murderer “burn in hell” caused some people to think her comment had racist undertones as Sessoms is Black, reports the Charlotte Observer.

Waddell later clarified that her anger “had absolutely nothing to do with race,” adding, “My sweet Cannon never saw color, he loved everybody. He was innocent, loving, selfless, best brother ever, and this cruel man took him away from us for no reason.”

Meanwhile, Carolyn revealed that they never had issues with their neighbors and regrets her son’s actions. “We are so sorry,” she told the outlet. “I just keep seeing that baby. That beautiful baby. This is a peaceful neighborhood, and we just told our neighbors we are so sorry.”

Fox 8 reports that Cannon’s family plans to hold a memorial for him on Sept. 26 and will make sure that the little boy isn’t forgotten. The memorial will occur over a month after a funeral was held for Cannon on Aug. 13.

Following his death, Cannon’s grandmother, Gwen Hinnant, said the family will continue to honor their lost loved one.

“Yes, we’re gonna fight for justice for Cannon, but it goes beyond that because there are many children that are taken senselessly,” Gwen stated. “So justice is going to start with Cannon for us, but it’s gonna go beyond that.”

Along with a mural of Cannon on his bicycle featuring his silhouette framed inside the word “Innocent,” members of the community have been encouraged to wear Crocs, which was the boy’s go-to shoe, to show support for the grieving family.