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New playground will remember 5-year-old boy shot in Wilson

The family of a 5-year-old boy who was shot and killed last summer is helping the City of Wilson build a playground in his honor.

Posted Updated

By
Bryan Mims
, WRAL reporter
ELM CITY, N.C. — The family of a 5-year-old boy who was shot and killed last summer is helping the City of Wilson build a playground in his honor.

Cannon Hinnant was shot in his front yard in August. On Wednesday, his mother joined city officials in announcing plans for a memorial playground at the Gillette Athletic Complex on Corbett Avenue.

The 5-year-old was described as a lovable child who was very friendly. On Thursday evening, the parking lot of a nearby funeral home filled up as the family prepared to say goodbye.

The family is donating $400,000 to the project, half of which was raised on a GoFundMe page in Cannon's honor. The city is paying for the rest.

Cannon's mother said he loved playing outside, so the tribute is fitting.

"It's amazing," she said. "It's breathtaking. It's definitely something Cannon would want. He loved the playground, he loved kids, so bringing back this playground is what we're doing. We're doing it for Cannon. That's what he would have wanted."

New playground will remember 5-year-old boy shot in Wilson

The project will include an overhaul of the current playground at the athletic center along with the addition of a baseball field that will be called "Miracle Field."

The playground is set to open in the spring.

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