‘Horrible Nightmare’: 8-Year-Old Girl Shot Dead by Her Babysitter’s 11-Year-Old Son, Police Say

An 8-year-old North Carolina girl was allegedly shot and killed while in the care of her babysitter, and now authorities said the babysitter’s 11-year-old son has been arrested in connection with her murder.

On July 25, Jenesis Dockery and her 5-year-old sister were staying at their babysitter’s home, according to the News & Observer.

About an hour after dropping the girls off, their father received a phone call informing him that the older girl had been shot, the News & Observer reported.

Jenesis was taken to a local hospital, where she died on July 27, just days before her 9th birthday, officials said.

On Aug. 11, the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office announced that the boy, whose name has not been released because of his age, was placed in custody of the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, the News & Observer reported.

Dockery family attorney Harry Daniels claimed social media posts demonstrate the boy had access to guns before the fatal shooting.

Authorities said at least two guns found in the home were reportedly stolen from a relative’s safe.

“It is for sure that if they would have been more diligent and paid attention to the 11-year-old, they would have known that he had (a) fantasy about having guns and putting them on social media,” Daniels said, according to the News & Observer.

The victim's father, Fon Dockery, told WRAL-TV, ‘She just loved everybody. She wanted to dance and just live life, man. She loved making TikTok videos.”

He added, “This has been a horrible nightmare; still doesn’t feel real.”

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The boy was charged with manslaughter and two counts of larceny of a firearm, officials said.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and adults in the home could also face charges.