16-Year-Old Breaks Down in Court After Being Charged as an Adult for Murder: 'I Love You Mama'

A 16-year-old teen from North Carolina was seen crying out in court after he was charged as an adult for the murder of another teenager.

As reported by WCCB last month, Sean Simpson appeared at Gaston County Courthouse on Jan. 29, where he was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of 16-year-old Zaquavious Dawkins in Gastonia on Jan. 26. When it was revealed that he would be charged as an adult for murder and will be held without bail, the teen cried out and placed his head in his hands and said, "I love you, Mama, I love you."

North Carolina introduced its 'Raise the Age' law on December 1, 2024, which means that 16 and 17-year-olds can be tried as adults for severe felonies including murder.

Simpson has been accused of killing Dawkins, who was out on a trip to a nearby store to do some shopping for his disabled mother. The two teenagers had multiple altercations in the past, according to Dawkins' family. Simpson allegedly shot at him from the window of a black Tesla after shouting at Dawkins.

"He was sweet," said Dawkins' aunt Denise Wilson. "He was kind. He would do anything for anybody. I mean, all you have to do is just say, ‘Tank, will you go do this? Yes, ma’am. Yes, sir.' ... For him to not be here today, we’re all heartbroken. We’re heartbroken." Simpson was arrested two days after Dawkins was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital, where he was taken after he was discovered covered in blood with a gunshot wound.