A South Carolina man accused of killing his neighbor’s child, Cannon Hinnant, has been indicted for first-degree murder.
Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, 25, was indicted by a grand jury in Wilson on December 24. According to ABC 11, his next court appearance is scheduled for January 24.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Task Force arrested Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, 25, in September 2020, in connection with the shooting death of 5-year-old Cannon.
According to officials, the shooting happened at around 5:33 p.m., at 100 Archers Road in Wilson. Family members told police that Cannon was outside on his bike, playing with his sisters, ages 8 and 7, when Sessoms walked up to the boy, pointed a gun at his head, and pulled the trigger.
First responders rushed Cannon to the Wilson Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.
Sessoms had just had dinner with Cannon’s father, Austin Hinnant, the night prior. Sessoms showed no signs of aggression and no ill will at all toward Cannon, Austin told Nancy Grace on “Crime Stories.”
“It all happened so fast. It was like any other Sunday with my family,” Austin said. “We went to church, we followed up with lunch and came home and relaxed. The children wanted to go outside and play and was doing what they loved.”
Sessoms, seemingly out of nowhere, allegedly crept up on Cannon, pointed a gun at the child’s head, and pulled the trigger. Neighbors witnessed it while Austin Hinnant, still inside his home, heard a single gunshot.
“I heard one single shot. I could tell that it was close. Before I even made it out my front door, I knew something was wrong. I had to run outside and find my son bleeding from the head,” Austin said, his voice cracking as he relived the experience.
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“We didn’t want any of this. We just wanted his life to be happy.”
Afterward, according to Austin, the suspect paced around, full of rage with a gun still in his hand. He eventually fled the scene in a Corolla sedan but authorities apprehended him the following day at a residence in Goldsboro.
There is still no known motive in the case, although family members of the suspects reportedly suggested he was using drugs at the time of the shooting.
Court documents indicate that Sessoms has been arrested at least three times for having a home known for drug activities. Out of the three charges, he’s been convicted on one charge while another was dropped. The third case is pending.
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[Feature Photo: Cannon Hinnant/Handout]
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