Family of slain 8-year-old call for accountability at 'Justice for Jenesis' rally
A family in Cumberland County is fighting for the district attorney's attention in the death of an 8-year-old.
Currently, an 11-year-old boy is the only person in custody in the death of Jenesis Dockery.
Her family is asking Cumberland County District Attorney Billy West to charge the accused boy's sitter and grandfather.
The family of Jenesis Dockery stood at the Cumberland County Courthouse and held signs. They want the adults involved in the matter to be held accountable.
The family stood outside, as other family members went inside the courthouse to listen to a custody hearing on the 11-year old suspect.
Dockery died on July 27 at the age of 8. She was allegedly shot on July 25 by her babysitter’s son.
Dockery’s family is demanding a relative who lives at the home where the 11-year-old retrieved the gun to face charges.
Fon Dockery, Jenesis' father, hopes to put pressure on West and Cumberland County Sheriff's Office.
“They deserve just as much responsibility and accountability as the child," Dockery said. "That 11-year-old can’t buy a gun. If this gun is secured by the grandpa, he can’t get it and we are not here today.”
Fon said it's important that West send a message.
"Not just for our daughter," Fon said. "We can’t bring her back. [It's] for the many other children that are at risk in the city."
Fon Dockery and the others wore shirts with #sleepinpeace written above photos of Jenesis.
Civil rights lawyer Harry 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 at an August news conference. “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.”
Fon Dockery is hoping to meet with West soon. WRAL News reached out to West to ask whether any adults would face charges. We did not hear back.
