A 16-year-old from North Carolina screamed for his mother after a judge ruled he would be charged as an adult for first-degree murder under the state’s tough new law.
Sean Simpson, 16, was overcome with emotion as a judge denied him bail and assigned him a capital defender for allegedly shooting and killing Zaquavious Dawkins – also 16 – on January 26 in Gastonia, roughly 20 miles from Charlotte, WCCB reported.
As court officers held him up, the visibly shaken suspect, who will now face adult charges, sobbed uncontrollably and cried out: “I love you, Mama! I love you, Mama!”
He was then escorted out of the courtroom.
According to the Gaston Gazette, Dawkins was walking with a friend to a Family Dollar to pick up items for his disabled mother when a black Tesla drove past them.
A teenager, later identified as Simpson, allegedly yelled at them from the back seat before the car looped around and came back in their direction.
Sensing trouble, Dawkins and his friend took off running. That’s when Simpson allegedly opened fire from the back seat and struck Dawkins in the right shoulder.
When police arrived at the scene, the teen was covered in blood in a parking lot. Despite efforts to save him, he tragically died from his injuries. His friend was also injured but survived the shooting.
Cops arrested Simpson two days later at the Gaston Adolescent Center, a facility that treats children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
It remains unclear how long the 16-year-old had been receiving treatment at the center before his arrest.
Dawkins’ aunt, Denise Wilson, revealed that her nephew and Simpson had issues last year, but the family believed the dispute had been settled.
She described Dawkins as a “sweet” and “kind” boy who “would do anything for anybody,” adding: “For him to not be here today, we’re all heartbroken… We’re heartbroken.”
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His grandmother, Eveleana Dawkins, also spoke through tears, saying the loss has devastated the entire community.
“It’s affecting everybody. Even the neighborhood he lives in,” she emotionally added.
Simpson is believed to be one of the first teens charged under North Carolina’s new law, which went into effect on December 1.
The law allows 16 and 17-year-olds to be prosecuted as adults if accused of committing Class A through E felonies, including murder.
The teen now faces a possible grand jury indictment for Dawkins’ killing, potentially sealing his fate in the adult court system.
Wilson, heartbroken over her nephew’s death, had a blunt message for the accused teen: “(You’re) out here doing big-boy things, and this is what’s going to happen. You got to suffer the consequences.”
A GoFundMe was set up to help the late boy’s mother as she is unable to work due to health issues.
As of this writing, more than $15,000 has been raised.
Our thoughts are with Dawkins’ loved ones at this difficult time.
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