Five-year-old boy is shot dead at point blank range by neighbour, 25

[MosheFeingold]

Daily Mail (UK)
11 August 2020
By: Frances Mulraney

North Carolina police have charged a neighbor with the murder of a five-year-old boy who was riding a bike in his own yard when he was shot at point blank range on Sunday evening. Darius Sessoms, 25, was taken into custody by Wilson police around 24 hours after he allegedly approached Cannon Hinnant in front of the young boy's father's house at 5:30pm and shot him in the head. Hinnant's seven-year-old and eight-year-old sisters witnessed the killing, their mother told WRAL.

Sessoms lived next door to the family, and the killing is not believed to be random. Neighbors claim he had dinner with Hinnant's father Austin on Friday and had been over at the house earlier on Sunday. The motive for the killing is still under investigation, but a GoFundMe established by a family member says that the young boy rode into Sessoms' yard. 'Sunday, August 9, 2020 a sweet soul named Cannon Hinnant was taken from this world over a senseless act,' it reads. 'A beautiful 5 year old baby boy riding his bicycle was shot by his neighbor point blank in Wilson NC. One minute he is enjoying his life, the next it all ends because he rode into his neighbors yard.'

The young boy was set to start Kindergarten on Monday and had just learned to write his name. 'He was just a loving kid,' his mother Bonny Waddell told the Wilson Times. 'He had the biggest heart.' 'It’s devastating. No one should ever have to bury their child. No mother should have to go through this.'

Hinnant's family said they have known the suspect for years and did not believe he could be capable of murder. '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,' Rachel Pipkin, a cousin of Cannon’s mother told CBS. Police were called to the scene on Archers Road at around 5.30pm Sunday where Hinnant was found with a gunshot wound.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8615711/Five-year-old-boy-riding-bike-shot-dead-neighbor-25-two-sisters.html
Excerpted. More at link above.

[dawg day]

1. If you don't have a gun and get mad at some kid for riding his bike too loudly, you yell.

If you have a gun, you can shoot the kid dead.

I guess that's it. Have a gun, shoot a gun.

[MosheFeingold]

10. I've had a firearm of some kind

Pretty much since I was a soldier and then (briefly) a cop.

I can't say I ever got mad at someone, let alone a kid, and shot them, regardless of being armed.

The firearm actually made me more avoiding of escalating confrontations.

[dawg day]

12. That's what it should be with responsible gun owners.

It just takes one irresponsible one to give everyone a bad name.

That poor family. The boy died in front of them. I can't imagine the torment.

[jimfields33]

2. This is so tragic

Both families destroyed forever. So disgusted that an adult male would murder a young kid.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. A terrible story and loss for this family (the Hinnants)...just horrible. NT

[LonePirate]

4. It's cases like this one which really challenge my opposition to capital punishment.

If there is a dirt bag who needs to be executed, it’s someone like this. However, life in prison with no parole will make him rethink his horrendous act for decades to come as he might spend 50-60+ years behind bars.

[dware]

6. +100.

Really do wish I could Rec. this post, instead, I'll give it one of these:

[demigoddess]

13. If he spent his whole life behind bars or in solitary confinement I would agree with you.

But they keep paroling them after 20 years or so. Killing a child with a gun has got to cost you more than beating up or killing a man who could defend himself.

[BlueTsunami2018]

5. What kind of lunatic does something like this?

Say what you want but this guy should hang. He should be dead already. This meets the strict criteria I have for capital punishment.

[Sancho]

7. People Control, Not Gun Control

This is my generic response to gun threads where people are shot and killed by the dumb or criminal possession of guns. For the record, I grew up in the South and on military bases. I was taught about firearms as a child, and I grew up hunting, was a member of the NRA, and I still own guns. In the 70’s, I dropped out of the NRA because they become more radical and less interested in safety and training. Some personal experiences where people I know were involved in shootings caused me to realize that anyone could obtain and posses a gun no matter how illogical it was for them to have a gun. Also, easy access to more powerful guns, guns in the hands of children, and guns that weren’t secured are out of control in our society. As such, here’s what I now think ought to be the requirements to possess a gun. I’m not debating the legal language, I just think it’s the reasonable way to stop the shootings. Notice, none of this restricts the type of guns sold. This is aimed at the people who shoot others, because it’s clear that they should never have had a gun.

1.) Anyone in possession of a gun (whether they own it or not) should have a regularly renewed license. If you want to call it a permit, certificate, or something else that's fine.
2.) To get a license, you should have a background check, and be examined by a professional for emotional and mental stability appropriate for gun possession. It might be appropriate to require that examination to be accompanied by references from family, friends, employers, etc. This check is not to subject you to a mental health diagnosis, just check on your superficial and apparent gun-worthyness.
3.) To get the license, you should be required to take a safety course and pass a test appropriate to the type of gun you want to use.
4.) To get a license, you should be over 21. Under 21, you could only use a gun under direct supervision of a licensed person and after obtaining a learner’s license. Your license might be restricted if you have children or criminals or other unsafe people living in your home. (If you want to argue 18 or 25 or some other age, fine. 21 makes sense to me.)
5.) If you possess a gun, you would have to carry a liability insurance policy specifically for gun ownership - and likely you would have to provide proof of appropriate storage, security, and whatever statistical reasons that emerge that would drive the costs and ability to get insurance.
6.) You could not purchase a gun or ammunition without a license, and purchases would have a waiting period.
7.) If you possess a gun without a license, you go to jail, the gun is impounded, and a judge will have to let you go (just like a DUI).
8.) No one should carry an unsecured gun (except in a locked case, unloaded) when outside of home. Guns should be secure when transporting to a shooting event without demonstrating a special need. Their license should indicate training and special carry circumstances beyond recreational shooting (security guard, etc.). If you are carrying your gun while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you lose your gun and license.
9.) If you buy, sell, give away, or inherit a gun, your license information should be recorded.
10.) If you accidentally discharge your gun, commit a crime, get referred by a mental health professional, are served a restraining order, etc., you should lose your license and guns until reinstated by a serious relicensing process.

Most of you know that a license is no big deal. Besides a driver’s license you need a license to fish, operate a boat, or many other activities. I realize these differ by state, but that is not a reason to let anyone without a bit of sense pack a semiautomatic weapon in public, on the roads, and in schools. I think we need to make it much harder for some people to have guns.

[MosheFeingold]

9. The shooter was a felon

Both convicted of firearms charges and had multiple felonies pending.

So he had zero legal ability to have a weapon.

But, for people who do things like this, laws don't matter much.

[Sancho]

11. Which is why you should have to produce a valid license...

...every time you purchase a gun, buy a bullet, or travel with a gun, or enter a shoot range, etc.

It would not eliminate such shootings, but it would make it much more difficult for dangerous people to possess guns.

[CaptYossarian]

8. Wayne LaPierre and Ollie North win again.

This is Viagra to them.