A North Carolina teen was brought to tears, screaming in disbelief, and needed to be held up by court officers after he was told by a judge he would be charged as an adult for murder.
Sean Simpson, 16, was charged with first-degree murder last month for allegedly shooting Zaquavious Dawkins, also 16, on Jan. 26 in Gastonia — located about 20 miles outside of Charlotte, WCCB reported.
The alleged killer was seen sobbing and unable to stand on his own as a judge appointed him a capital defender, denied him bail, and told him he would be charged as an adult.
“I love you, mama! I love you, mama,” Simpson wailed out as he was escorted out of the courtroom on Jan. 29.
He allegedly gunned down Dawkins as he was walking with a friend to pick up items for his disabled mother at a Family Dollar when a black Tesla drove past them, and a boy — identified as Simpson — yelled at them from the back passenger seat, the Gaston Gazette reported.
The Tesla returned and headed toward the boys, prompting them to run away.
Simpson then allegedly started to shoot at them from the back of the car as they fled — hitting Dawkins in the right shoulder.
The teen was found by police covered in blood in a parking lot and died from his injuries. His friend was also injured in the shooting but survived.
Simpson was arrested two days later by the Gastonia Police Department at the Gaston Adolescent Center — a facility for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties.
The killer teen had been receiving treatment at the center when he was arrested.
Dawkins’ aunt, Denise Wilson, who was in court when Simpson was charged, told WCCB that her nephew and Simpson had problems with each other last year, but they believed the two settled the issue.
Wilson, who shared that Dawkins was a “sweet” and “kind” boy who “would do anything for anybody,” said the family is left in shambles over his death.
“For him to not be here today, we’re all heartbroken,” she said. “We’re heartbroken.”
Dawkins’ grandmother, Eveleana Dawkins, said that her grandson’s death has affected more than just his family.
“It’s affecting everybody. Even the neighborhood he lives in,” Eveleana said while fighting back tears.
Simpson is believed to be one of the first teenagers to be charged under a new state law enacted on Dec. 1 that can charge 16 and 17-year-olds as adults if they are accused of committing a class A through E felonies, including murder.
He now faces a potential grand jury indictment for Dawkins’ murder.
“(You’re) out here doing big boy things, and this is what’s going to happen,” Wilson said.
“You got to suffer the consequences.”
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