Boy, 11, could face manslaughter charges for allegedly shooting 8-year-old girl his mom was babysitting

An 11-year-old boy from North Carolina could face manslaughter charges after he allegedly shot an eight-year-old girl his mother was babysitting.

Jenesis Dockery, eight, died in hospital two days after she was shot in the head in Fayetteville on July 25, just an hour after she was dropped off at the 11-year-old's mother's house.

The boy, who has not been named, has not yet been charged, but WRAL reports that investigators believe there is enough evidence to charge him with manslaughter and larceny of a firearm.

The 11-year-old is believed to have fatally shot the young girl with a relative's gun, and was taken into custody on Friday.

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office filed paperwork to the Department of Juvenile Justice recommending that the boy - who is currently in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Detention - be charged, and are also seeking secured custody.

It is not yet known if any of the adults involved will face charges, but Jenesis's father, Fon Dockery, revealed that she and her sister were both at the house on the day of the shooting, and had been babysat by the 11-year-old's relative on multiple occasions, as reported by the New York Post.

The Dockery family lawyer, Harry Daniels, said in a press conference that the 11-year-old boy allegedly stole the guns from a safe in the babysitter's home, which was reportedly unlocked and to which the boy knew the combination.

It is also reported that the boy had been seen holding guns in pictures posted to social media prior to the fatal shooting.

Jenesis's father told WNCN: "My daughter’s life was tragically taken. 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. She wanted to dance and just live life, man. She loved making TikTok videos."

Over $23,000 has so far been raised for Jenesis's family in the wake of the tragedy. Credit: GoFundMe

Jenesis's family remembered her as a "joyful, energetic child with Jesus in her heart and a perfect smile on her face" on a GoFundMe page raising money to help her family in the wake of this tragic loss.

The fundraiser added: "The void that is left in her absence is immeasurable. The Dockery family has a long road of grief and healing ahead of them."

So far, over $23,000 has been raised out of a $50,000 target through 370 donations.

The family also wore orange pins to Jenesis's funeral, symbolizing gun violence awareness, as her father added: "Because as much as we want justice for our daughter, this is something no parent should ever have to do."

Our thoughts are with the Dockery family as they deal with this immeasurable loss.

Featured image credit: Getty Images