$750,000 donated to cover funeral expenses for 5-year-old boy fatally shot in N.C.

An online fundraiser to cover the funeral expenses for 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant, who was fatally shot last week, has received more than $750,000 in donations.

Cannon was shot on Aug. 9 while he was playing outside of his Wilson, N.C. home with his 7- and 8-year-old sisters, his family says.

A neighbor, Darius N. Sessoms, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

The GoFundMe page was set up by Gwen Hinnant, who says in the fundraiser’s description that she is the boy’s grandmother.

“He was merely doing what he would do any other day and that’s playing with his sisters, riding his bike, doing what kids do and all of the innocence that comes with being a child,” she wrote. “This family has faced unimaginable pain because of this senseless act of violence.”

She added, “We offer our sincerest appreciation in this extremely difficult time.”

Funeral services for Cannon took place last Thursday.

Cannon’s father, Austin Hinnant, told local news station WRAL that Sessoms, 25, has been his neighbor for eight years, and that the two had dinner together the night before the shooting.

“There wasn’t anything between me and him, any bad blood whatsoever, for him to have a reason to do this,” he told the TV outlet.

Authorities have not released a potential motive.