FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA: An eight-year-old girl has died after allegedly being shot by her babysitter’s 11-year-old son, who stole the gun from his relative’s safe.
The unidentified suspect reportedly shot Jenesis Dockery in the head in Fayetteville on July 25, just an hour after her father left her at the babysitter's home with her five-year-old sister.
Dockery was immediately rushed to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries two days later. The boy was taken into custody on Friday, August 11. Investigators said there was enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter, according to ABC 11.
What charges does Jenesis Dockery’s alleged shooter face?
The Special Victims Unit of the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has submitted papers to the Division of Juvenile Justice to charge the young boy with manslaughter and two counts of larceny of a firearm.
Additionally, detectives are attempting to get a secured custody order against him. The state's Department of Juvenile Justice stated no share further details could be shared on specific cases.
"However, when making decisions related to secure custody, staff with the Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention take very seriously any information addressing whether a juvenile presents a danger to public safety and respond accordingly," the spokesperson added.
Jenesis Dockery's alleged shooter had 'fantasy about having guns'
It is unclear if any adult will be charged in the case but Dockery family’s lawyer, Harry Daniels, wants those who allowed the child to get access to weapons to be held accountable.
Daniels said that the young boy allegedly stole the guns out of a safe in the babysitter’s home. "It is for sure that if they would have been more diligent and paid attention to the 11-year-old, they would have known that he had (a) fantasy about having guns and putting them on social media," he said, per the Daily Mail.
The attorney also noted that there were several social media posts that showed the 11-year-old had access to guns. Investigators are waiting for an autopsy and other evidence before deciding if any charges will be filed.
Who was Jenesis Dockery?
Dockery has been described as an energetic young girl who enjoyed making dancing videos and "loved everybody." “My daughter’s life was tragically taken,” Dockery's father, Fon, told WNCN.
Fon added, “It hurt my heart to think that I would be in a situation where I would have to comfort my youngest daughter."
“This has been a horrible nightmare, and still doesn’t feel real. She wanted to dance and just live life, man. She loved making TikTok videos,” he continued.
Dockery's parents got tattoos in her honor and said that her death has left them with an "immeasurable" void.
"This has been a horrible nightmare, and still doesn’t feel real. It’s hard to put into words how we’re trying to navigate, three weeks later, for something to be done," Fon continued.