An eight-year-old girl has died after her babysitter’s 11-year-old son allegedly shot her in the head with a gun he stole from a relative’s safe.
Jenesis Dockery was shot dead on July 23 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, just an hour after her father dropped her off at the nanny with her five-year-old sister.
The babysitter’s son allegedly got hold of a gun and shot him in the head. She was rushed to hospital but died two days later.
Jenesis was described as an energetic young girl who loved making dance videos and “loved everyone”. His family are heartbroken by his death and are campaigning for justice.
The boy is currently in police custody and investigators say there is enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter, according to ABC 11.
Eight-year-old Jenesis Dockery died after her babysitter’s 11-year-old son allegedly shot her in the head with a gun he stole from a relative’s safe
Her parents Fon and Kimberly Dockery (pictured centre) were heartbroken by her death on July 25 and are campaigning for justice
Jenesis’ father, Fon Dockery, said her life was cut short after he dropped her and her younger sister off with a babysitter who had cared for them many times before.
He learned that she was shot about an hour later and died after two days in hospital.
“My daughter’s life has been tragically taken,” he said. WNCN. “It hurt my heart to think that I would be in a situation where I had to comfort my youngest daughter.”
“Losing your child is definitely a different pain,” said her mother, Kimberly Dockery.
“And of course no one understands unless they’ve lost a child. It’s definitely a pain that you can’t even describe.
Fon described Jenesis as a child who “just loved everyone.” He said: ‘She wanted to dance and just live her life, man. She loved making TikTok videos.
Her parents got memory tattoos and say the loss of their daughter has left them with an “immeasurable” absence.
“It’s been a horrible nightmare, it still doesn’t feel real,” Fon said at a press conference on Thursday.
“It’s hard to put into words how we’re trying to navigate, three weeks down the line, to get something done.”
The family campaigns for justice for Jenesis and for gun violence awareness.
Jenesis Dockery was shot on July 23 just an hour after her father dropped her off at the nanny with her five-year-old sister (second from left)
The babysitter’s son allegedly got hold of a gun and shot him in the head. She was rushed to hospital but died two days later
“We wore orange pins the day we buried our daughter – for gun violence awareness,” her father said.
“Because while we want justice for our daughter, it’s something no parent should ever have to do.
“We thank the community and ask that you continue to support and reach out until the law is fully enforced with justice for our Jenesis.
The family’s attorney says the babysitter’s 11-year-old son is accused of shooting the girl.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit submitted documents Thursday to the Juvenile Justice Division encouraging it to charge the young boy with manslaughter and two counts of theft of a weapon fire.
Detectives are also trying to seek a secure custody order for him.
A spokesperson for the state Department of Juvenile Justice said he could not share details about specific cases.
“However, when making decisions about secure custody, staff at the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Division take any information that indicates whether a minor presents a safety hazard very seriously. public and reacts accordingly,” the spokesperson added.
“The role of DJJDP is to take into account the potential risk to public safety, the individualized needs of the minor and their risk of recidivism when making decisions on the best way to combat delinquency.”
Jenesis’ funeral was held on Wednesday and a fundraising page on GoFundMe has raised over $23,000 for her family
Family lawyer Harry Daniels wants those who allowed the child access to the guns to be held accountable
Lawyer Harry Daniels wants those who allowed the child access to the guns to be held accountable.
“Certainly if they had been more diligent and paid attention to the 11-year-old, they would have known he had (a) fantasy of having guns and putting them on social media. “, did he declare.
Daniels claimed there were multiple social media posts that showed the 11-year-old had access to firearms.
He said two of the guns involved in the case were stolen from a relative’s safe.
Investigators are awaiting an autopsy and other evidence before deciding whether charges will be brought.
Jenesis’ funeral took place on Wednesday and a fundraising page on GoFundMe raised over $23,000 for his family.
