An 11-year-old North Carolina boy could face manslaughter charges after he allegedly used a relative’s gun to fatally shoot an 8-year-old girl his mother was baby-sitting.
The unidentified 11-year-old was taken into custody Friday for allegedly shooting Jenesis Dockery in the head in Fayetteville on July 25 — just an hour after she was dropped off at his relative’s home to be baby-sat.
She was rushed to the hospital, where she died two days later.
The boy has not yet been charged, but investigators believe there’s enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter and larceny of a firearm, according to WRAL.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has filed paperwork with the Department of Juvenile Justice to encourage charging the boy. It is also seeking secured custody.
He is in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Detention.
It is unclear if any of the adults involved will face charges.
Jenesis Dockery, 8, was shot in the head on July 25 and died in the hospital two days later. jenesisandamaramom/Tiktok
Jenesis Dockery, 8, died two days after she was shot in the head by her babysitter’s 11-year-old son on July 25. GoFundMe
An unidentified 11-year-old boy has been taken into custody over the shooting and could face manslaughter charges. WRALJenesis and her sister, who was there the day of the shooting, had been watched by the 11-year-old’s relative on multiple occasions, according to her father, Fon Dockery.
The boy allegedly stole the gun out of a safe in the baby-sitter’s home, the Dockery family lawyer, Harry Daniels, said at a press conference. The boy had been seen holding guns in photos posted on social media prior to the shooting.
Daniels also said the safe was unlocked and the boy knew its combination.
Jenesis’ family recalled her as a “joyful, energetic child with Jesus in her heart and a perfect smile on her face” on a GoFundMe page.
Jenesis and her sister, who was there the day of the shooting, had been watched by the 11-year-old’s relative on multiple occasions, according to her father, Fon Dockery. Gofundme
The boy allegedly stole the gun out of a safe in the baby-sitter’s home, said the Dockery family lawyer.
The child was remembered as a “joyful, energetic child with Jesus in her heart and a perfect smile on her face.” Kimberly Dockery/Facebook“My daughter’s life was tragically taken,” Fon told WNCN. “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, still doesn’t feel real,” he continued. “She wanted to dance and just live life, man. She loved making TikTok videos.”
The family wore orange pins to Jenesis’ funeral, which symbolize gun violence awareness.
“Because as much as we want justice for our daughter, this is something no parent should ever have to do,” her father said.
