Crime
16-Year-Old Hailey Blake and Father Shawn Blake Killed in Liberty City Park Targeted Shooting
LIBERTY CITY, Texas — A 16-year-old girl and her father were fatally shot Monday afternoon in what investigators believe was a targeted attack at Hugh Camp Memorial Park in Liberty City, according to the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office.
The victims have been identified as Hailey Nicole Blake, 16, and her father, Shawn Glen Blake, 49. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities said a third individual, believed to be Hailey’s boyfriend, Christopher Wayne Hicks Jr., sustained what appeared to be self-inflicted, life-threatening injuries.
He was transported to a local hospital, where his condition remains critical.
Deputies, along with Christus EMS personnel and Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, responded to the park Monday afternoon after reports of multiple gunshot victims.
Life-saving measures were initiated, but both Hailey and her father could not be revived.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Chief Deputy Craig Harrington emphasized that the violence was not random:
“At this time, it is believed this was a targeted attack and not a random act of violence. There were no other injuries at the park reported other than the three subjects involved.”
The sheriff’s office confirmed that two off-duty first responders who happened to be at the park immediately assisted the victims, though they were not directly involved in the altercation.
Hailey was a student at Sabine High School. The school district expressed its condolences in a statement Monday night, saying:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students. We will have additional support and counseling on campus tomorrow. Please keep the families, our school, and our community in your prayers.”
The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information relevant to the investigation to come forward.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.