A 12-year-old boy charged in the shooting death of 8-year-old Jenesis Dockery may soon be transferred to a mental health facility near Asheville. A juvenile court judge denied the request to release him to his grandmother on Tuesday. Instead, the judge is seeking a secure mental health institution for the boy.
The tragic incident occurred in July at the babysitter’s house in Eastover, where Jenesis was shot and killed in front of her 5-year-old sister. The 12-year-old suspect, who is the babysitter’s son, is facing charges of manslaughter and larceny for taking the weapon from his grandfather’s safe.
Jenesis’ father, Fon Dockery, expressed concerns about the potential danger the suspect could pose to society if released. He believes the pre-teen should be incarcerated for life. The 12-year-old remains in Cumberland County Juvenile Detention Center, with the next custody hearing scheduled for October 4th at 10:30 a.m.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office has closed the case and handed it over to the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office. The Dockery family is advocating for “Jenesis Law,” which aims to establish stricter regulations for gun owners, holding them accountable for crimes committed with their weapons.
