Family, friends honor Cannon Hinnant, slain 5-year-old

WILSON, N.C. — Family and friends of a 5-year-old boy who was shot in the head while riding his bicycle gathered together Thursday.

About 100 cars filled the parking lot of a North Carolina funeral home to honor Cannon Hinnant and support his family after the child was fatally shot by a neighbor Sunday, WSOC-TV reported.

“We shouldn’t even be here,” Merrill Race, Cannon’s grandfather, told WTVD.

A vigil planned for Friday was postponed. The family said they need time to mourn. A GoFundMe account set up for the family has raised more than $320,000.

Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, 25, is accused of walking up to Cannon and shooting the boy in the head while he was riding a bicycle, investigators said. Sessoms was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree murder. He is in jail without bond. Police have not released a motive for the shooting.

Sessoms has previously been convicted of felony larceny of firearms in March 2016; misdemeanor maintaining a place for a controlled substance in April 2016; and felony marijuana possession in November 2016.

Cox Media Group