'My baby didn't deserve this:' Cannon Hinnant's mother shares heartbreak after 5-year-old's murder

Cannon Hinnant’s mother, Bonny Waddell, said she is distraught, yet hopeful.

She’s hopeful the suspect, Darius Sessoms, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She’s hopeful she and the rest of her family will find ways to carry on the light and legacy young Cannon left behind.

The community is grieving with his family. People came out Friday night and lit candles outside the Wilson County Court House.

Family, community comes together to say goodbye to slain 5-year-old

Waddell said she does not understand why it happened.

“My baby didn’t deserve this,” said Waddell.

Five-year-old Cannon had an infectious smile and personality. He loved go-carting and his bike.

“He had the biggest smile, the biggest eyes,” described Waddell.

Waddell said she lost a piece of her heart Sunday.

“We lost a big piece of our family. We all. He changed all of our lives. He touched everybody he knew,” she said.

It’s a day too hard to recount. Not only for her but for Cannon’s two sisters and 7-year-old aunt who watched him die.

“This man took my girls when he took my baby. They know he’s in a better place,” Waddell said.

While Sessoms is in jail facing a first-degree murder charge for killing Cannon – family and friends said there’s still justice they want to see.

“I want death penalty and I’m gonna seek it,” said Waddell.

“We’ve discussed a memorial park for Cannon where kids go and ride their bikes because he liked that so much,” said Cannon’s grandmother, Gwen Hinnant.

While grief and questions weigh on this mother’s heart, she said she knows there’s a greater plan

“Cannon’s gonna change this world.”