A teen girl and her father are dead after her ex-boyfriend allegedly gunned them down at a city park in Liberty City, Texas. Christopher Wayne Hicks Jr. reportedly shot and killed Hailey Blake, 16, and her dad, Shawn Glen Blake, 49, on September 1, 2025, in a “targeted attack,” the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office noted in a news release shared on Facebook.
Just before 2 p.m., according to KLTV 7, personnel from Christus EMS, the Department of Public Safety, and Gregg County Emergency Services District Two arrived at Hugh Camp Park. Two off-duty first responders, who were already at the park when shots rang out, also helped, per the news release. They “began life-saving procedures on the victims,” who were ultimately declared dead at the scene.
The suspect — who is “believed to be Hailey’s boyfriend,” according to the news release — was “transported to a local hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries that appeared to be self-inflicted.” The incident appears to have been a “targeted attack and not a random act of violence.” An investigation continues into the attack.
Hailey was a student at Sabine High School, KLTV reported. In a statement posted on Facebook, the school district shared it was “saddened” to hear the news of her death. “We will have additional support and counseling on campus tomorrow,” the post added. “Please keep the families, our school, and our community in your prayers.”
A GoFundMe campaign was started to help pay for Hailey and Shawn’s final expenses. Thus far, more than $800 of the $10,000 goal has been raised.
