The Latest (8/17/20):
WILSON, N.C.– More than $700,000 has been raised for the funeral service expenses of a slain 5-year-old boy in Wilson whose death has captured national attention.
The donations poured into a GoFundMe page organized by Gwen Hinnant, who identifies herself on the website as Cannon Hinnant’s grandmother.
“This family has faced unimaginable pain because of this senseless act of violence,” the post read, “We offer our sincerest appreciation in this extremely difficult time, #justice for Cannon.”
Cannon’s funeral service was held Thursday, days after the 5-year-old was fatally shot in the family’s driveway as he rode his bike, news outlets reported. A neighbor, 25-year-old Darius Nathaniel Sessoms, has been charged with first-degree murder in his death.
A day before the funeral, police in North Carolina warned about false information circulating on social media about the case, including posts that resembled news releases from investigators.
“These are fraudulent posts,” the Wilson Police Department said in a statement while encouraging people to report the fake Facebook posts to the social media company. The department repeated the ask on its Facebook page Saturday and told people to avoid sharing the posts.
Some have taken to social media to claim that race was a factor in Cannon’s death. Cannon was white and Sessoms is Black. Cannon’s father, Austin Hinnant, said he had been disturbed by these posts.
“This is no racial issue,” Austin Hinnant told The Wilson Times.
Click here for additional information on the Justice for Cannon GoFundMe page.
Original Story (8/15/20):
WILSON, N.C. — The family of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant, who was shot in the head while riding his bicycle and died August 9th, has raised more than $470,000 on their GoFundMe page in less than a week.
Officers say the families neighbor 25-year-old Darrius Sessoms shot the boy late Sunday afternoon, and has been charged with murder.
Cannon’s grandmother, Gwen Hinnant, created the online fundraiser on August 12th with the goal of raising $5,000 to pay for funeral services.
Gwen Hinnant says the boy was just doing what he would do any other day when the shooting occurred.
“He just loved everything. Everybody,” Lee Parker, Cannon’s stepfather said. “I could sit here for days, I just … there are no words or no amount of money that’s going to bring him back.”
Hundreds of people showed up to Shingleton Funeral Home in Wilson to show their support on Thursday, August 13th.
The family postponed the community vigil that was planned for Friday, August 14th, and hope to have a gathering later on in the coming weeks.
