BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Suspect charged with murdering 5-year-old NC boy appears in court

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

WILSON, N.C. (News Nation/WNCN) – The 25-year-old man charged with shooting and killing a 5-year-old boy over the weekend in Wilson had his first court appearance Tuesday.

Wilson police say Darius Sessoms shot and killed Cannon Hinnant at a home on Archers Road.

Investigators quickly identified Sessoms as the suspect and began a manhunt.

Sessoms was captured Monday at a residence in Goldsboro by members of the Wilson Police Department with assistance from U.S. Marshals, Goldsboro police, and the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office.

Cannon Hinnant

Sessoms was transported to Wilson where he was charged with first-degree murder and received no bond.

On Tuesday, Sessoms appeared for about 10 minutes via video conference before a judge.

The judge formally advised Sessoms on the charges against him.

Sessoms has a probable cause hearing scheduled for Aug. 25.

Darius Sessoms

Cannon’s family say they’ve known the suspect for many years while living near each other.

“We used to play together and I never thought he’d kill someone. A mother now has to lay her son to rest at 5 years old which she should never have to do. He’ll never be forgotten,” said Rachel Pipkin, a cousin of Cannon’s mother.

The city’s mayor was shaken by the tragedy and came out to pay his respects.

“I have a child that’s 5 years old. My heart broke right then. I went home right then and I took my baby and just hugged her,” said Carlton Stevens, the mayor of Wilson.

The family says Cannon was set to start kindergarten Monday, but say he’s now fulfilling a new mission with a higher power.

They say Sessoms’ arrest doesn’t bring Cannon back but that it does help them start to heal.

The family says they are now beginning the process of planning a funeral.

Southeast

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241202111905

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Mostly Cloudy

la

59°F Mostly Cloudy Feels like 59°
Wind
0 mph SSE
Humidity
74%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Mostly cloudy skies during the evening. Areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
49°F Mostly cloudy skies during the evening. Areas of fog developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph N
Precip
12%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waxing Crescent