North Carolina 16-year-old breaks down, cries for ‘Mama’ after being charged as adult for murder under new state law
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Published Feb. 25, 2025, 4:16 a.m. ET
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, about 20 miles outside 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.
