Family, community comes together to say goodbye to slain 5-year-old
Cannon Hinnant was a 5-year-old old boy who carried a big smile and a big heart.
“Cannon was the type of kid that was always polite, kind of laid back, but he was a beautiful little kid,” described Cannon’s grandfather, Merrill Race.
A kid who Cannon’s youth pastor Daryl High said was always a joy in Sunday school.
“His smile is huge. His personality is big. You could not help to be changed when you met Cannon. If a word wasn’t said, you can’t help to be changed,” he said.
On Thursday, mourners rallied around Cannon’s family inside and outside of a Wilson funeral home.
The support even reached the masses online in a GoFundMe account.
“Glad that people are showing up and show they got his back and they care. We need more of this and less of this hate,” said Race.
Darius Sessoms is the man police say killed Cannon as he was riding his bike on Sunday. A motive has not been released.
On Thursday night, pastors tried to explain the unexplainable to those who knew and loved Cannon.
“Cannon was a Christian, he believed in Jesus. What we teach our children is what we teach our adults and we teach anyone who follows Jesus. If you have faith in Jesus, you have an eternity in heaven with Jesus. We believe in our hearts fully that is where Cannon is at," said High.
Now family, friends and pastors will try to help to lift up this family.
"The only thing I keep thinking of is a scripture that comes to my heart, Psalm 34:18, that says God is close to the brokenhearted. ... That’s what I want people to know when we are hurting – God longs to be close to us,” said Campus Pastor of Wave Church Bobby Harrell.
A vigil scheduled for Friday has been postponed.
Sessoms' parents said they are deeply saddened by what happened to Cannon. They said they believe their son was on drugs and having hallucinations at the time of the shooting.
