Family, civil rights lawyer seek justice in shooting death of 8-year-old girl

“We cannot go back in time and bring back Jenesis,” Daniels said. “That’s the ultimate justice we want, but we can’t do that, but what we can do is try to hold those accountable, not just this juvenile, but to hold those accountable that allowed this 11-year-old juvenile to gain access to a weapon.”

Daniels said the allegations against the boy are that he stole two guns from the safe of a relative.

“[The boy] obviously knew the combination to the safe to get access to it,” Daniels said.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office has petitioned the Juvenile Justice Department, accusing the boy of two counts of larceny of a firearm and one count of manslaughter in a juvenile petition.

Daniels said the boy had multiple social media posts showing he had been in possession of guns.

“If you have weapons and you’re showing them off, then somebody isn’t watching you,” Daniels said. “There’s no supervision here.”

Daniels and Jenesis’ parents met Thursday with the attorneys representing the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

Daniels said it was his opinion that the gun used in the deadly shooting wasn’t a secured weapon. He also said two guns were stolen from the safe, which is why the complaint lists two counts of larceny.

Once the complaint is received, the juvenile court counselor reviews it and determines whether to file a juvenile petition or resolve the matter. The counselor has three options:

It’s unclear how long the process will take for the Department of Juvenile Justice to make a decision.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Daniels said.

11-year-old boy accused of manslaughter in shooting death of 8-year-old girl, complaint shows

On Thursday, Jenesis’ father, Fon Dockery, called the July 25 shooting a “horrible nightmare.” Jenesis died on July 27.

“It’s hard to put in words how we’re trying to navigate three weeks later for something to be done,” Dockery said.

Dockery thanked the community.

“As much as we want justice for our daughter, this is something no parent should ever have to do,” Dockery said.

Daniels said he wasn’t satisfied that no one else is facing charges in the case other than the possibility of the 11-year-old boy.

“You got to hold true accountability,” Daniels said. “Accountability at all levels. Parental supervision as such.”

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at 910-677-5477 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-8477.