A tragedy involving the Dockery family began when eight-year-old Jenesis Dockery was fatally shot while under the care of her babysitter, Chrystle Michael, in Fayetteville, North Carolina.
On July 27, 2023, Jenesis and her five-year-old sister were at Michael's residence, where it is alleged that a Phoenix Arms Raven .25 automatic pistol was mishandled.
Sources report that either the gun fell from a closet or was accessed by Michael's 11-year-old son, who had obtained it from his grandfather's house.
The Dockery family, who had a history of trust with Michael, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both the babysitter and the gun's owner, Thomas Michael. They allege both were responsible for not securing the weapon properly and for failing to ensure it was neither lost nor stolen before the incident took place.
Source: https://abc11.com/post/father-jenesis-dockery-killed-babysitters-care-faces-cyberstalking-charges/18068740/
Commentary
Effective gun safety requires a proactive approach to minimizing the risks posed to children in any setting where firearms are present.
Central to this effort is recognizing that children are naturally curious and may be exposed to situations where unsecured guns are accessible, whether at home, in the care of family friends, or in other environments.
The cornerstone of prevention lies in always securing firearms. This includes using locked cabinets or safes designed specifically for weapons, ensuring ammunition is stored separately, guns are stored unloaded and making use of trigger locks that render the firearm unusable without authorized access.
Education serves a vital role in loss prevention. Adults must be vigilant in teaching children about the dangers associated with guns, stressing that firearms should never be handled or played with. Open and consistent conversations about gun safety can help instill respect for the risks and reinforce boundaries regarding what to do if a child discovers an unattended weapon, such as leaving the area immediately and informing a trusted adult.
Responsible ownership includes regular checks to confirm that all firearms remain properly secured and accounted for at all times.
The final takeaway is that gun safety and education is a shared responsibility between adults and all adults should take it seriously.
