Fon Dockery, Fitness Coach at New Skills Academy Global, alleges that sheriffs tried to silence him by locking him up instead of fixing their egregious injustice to his family.
His 8-year-old daughter, Jenesis Dockery, was shot dead at the home of her babysitter by the babysitter’s 11-year-old son in July 2023.
8-year-old Jenesis Dockery was shot and killed while at her babysitter’s home in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Her father, Fon Dockery, has since been on a quest for justice and legal change.
On July 23, 2023, Jenesis and her sister, Amara, were dropped off at the home of their babysitter, Chrystle Michael. Her 11-year-old son gained access to a .25-caliber pistol and shot Jenesis in the head.
The gun was owned by the babysitter’s father, Thomas Michael.
The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office recommended that the 11-year-old boy face charges of manslaughter and two counts of larceny of a firearm.
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Father Pushes for Justice After Daughter’s Shooting Death
Fon Dockery and his family sought accountability. They filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both Chrystle Michael and Thomas Michael in March 2025.
Their attorneys argued that the tragedy was preventable and resulted from negligence, stating that neither adult had faced criminal charges for their role.
A major point of contention for the family is North Carolina’s existing Child Access Prevention (CAP) law. It holds adults criminally liable if a minor gains access to a firearm due to negligent storage and injures or kills someone.
Despite this law, no adult has been criminally charged in Jenesis’s death.
In a surprising turn of events, Fon Dockery himself was charged in October 2025.
He is accused of repeatedly communicating electronically to annoy, threaten, terrify, or harass Chrystle Michael and her family on January 2, 2025.
Dockery has publicly denied the accusations of cyberstalking and stated he would go to court to “dispel these lies and any false information.”
We need you, babe. Nc is so corrupt, we just need to pack up and move away. It isn’t fair how we are being treated. I feel they are basically saying the heck with our daughter life 😡. I’m sure if it was turned around with different colors of the skin, things would be totally different. But color still matters I don’t care what ppl say 😡. Why are laws even made if they can’t go for everyone 😡😡
Kimberly Dockery
Amid their personal legal battles, the Dockery family has channeled their grief into advocacy. Their efforts led state senators to introduce S.B. 161, the Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act.
The proposed law is designed to close what its supporters see as a loophole. Its key provisions include mandatory reporting, increased penalties, and safety incentives.
Furthermore, Dockery has spoken about the deep impact on his surviving family, including his wife’s depression and the trauma experienced by Amara, who witnessed the shooting.
He has expressed frustration with the pace of justice.
I got a grave that I go to see my daughter and that I have no peace. It’s zero ounces of peace because I got no justice.
Fon Dockery
