The police in North Carolina, USA, have charged a man with the murder of a 5-year-old boy, who was shot dead at point-blank range while riding a bike.

The incident happened on the evening of Sunday this week as the kid was preparing to start kindergarten for the first time the next day.

25-year-old Darius Sessoms was arrested by the police on suspicion of the murder.

The 5-year-old has been identified as Cannon Hinnant.

The boy was said to be playing in his dad’s front garden when Sessoms approached and pulled out a gun on him.

The man shot him in the head, which killed him right away.

Doris Labrant, a neighbor who saw the entire incident, said:

My first reaction was he’s playing with the kids. For a second, I thought. That couldn’t happen. People don’t run across the street and kill kids.

When she realized the shooting was real, she ran and locked her house.

She then called the authorities.

The 7-year-old and 8-year-old sisters of the victim witnessed the entire shooting.

It is believed that the suspect knew the family and had dinner with the boy’s dad on Friday last week.

A murder investigation is currently being carried out.

Bonny Waddell, the mother of the victim, released a heart-ripping statement, where she said:

He was just a loving kid. He had the biggest heart. It’s devastating. No one should ever have to bury their child. No mother should have to go through this.

The police were called at around 5:30 pm on Sunday, where the victim was found with a gunshot wound on his head.

The police came at the Archers Road.

Sessoms fled the scene in his car before being arrested 24-hours later.

He was charged with first-degree murder.

He is currently being held without bond.