Investigators say the fatal gunshot occurred as the man tried to intervene in a fight between his wife and adult daughter.
AZLE, Texas — A 61-year-old North Texas man remained in jail this week on a murder charge after authorities said his 25-year-old daughter was fatally shot during a Father’s Day dispute inside the family’s home. Investigators said the shooting happened while he was attempting to stop a physical fight between his wife and daughter.
Authorities identified the suspect as Charles Tod Brooks and the victim as Rebekah Bailey Brooks. The case has drawn attention because of the circumstances described by investigators, who said Brooks admitted retrieving a handgun, loading it and chambering a round before stepping into the altercation. The shooting is now the subject of an ongoing investigation involving local authorities and the Texas Rangers, while prosecutors and investigators continue reviewing evidence surrounding the fatal encounter.
Deputies were called to a residence in Azle on Father’s Day after receiving a report of a gunshot victim. First responders arrived and found an adult woman suffering from a gunshot wound. Deputies immediately began lifesaving efforts, and firefighters and emergency medical personnel continued resuscitation attempts after reaching the scene. Those efforts were unsuccessful, and the woman was pronounced dead. Investigators said they quickly determined that the victim’s father had fired the shot that struck her. According to statements gathered during the investigation, a physical confrontation had erupted between Rebekah Brooks and her mother inside the home. As the conflict continued, Charles Brooks attempted to intervene. Sheriff Russ Authier later expressed condolences to the victim’s relatives and loved ones as investigators worked to reconstruct the events that unfolded inside the residence.
According to investigators, Brooks told authorities the shooting was accidental. Law enforcement officials said his account described retrieving a handgun, loading the firearm and chambering a bullet before trying to separate the two women. He allegedly told investigators that the weapon discharged while he was attempting to break up the fight and that the bullet struck his daughter in the chest. Detectives interviewed witnesses and examined the scene as part of their effort to determine exactly how the shooting occurred. Authorities have not publicly disclosed additional forensic findings or detailed evidence explaining the precise sequence of movements that preceded the gunfire. Officials also have not released information about what sparked the altercation between the mother and daughter. Those unanswered questions remain central to the investigation as detectives continue collecting statements and reviewing physical evidence.
The incident occurred in Azle, a community located northwest of Fort Worth that spans portions of Parker and Tarrant counties. While family-related violence often presents complicated factual and legal questions, investigators in this case focused on the decision to introduce a loaded firearm into an ongoing domestic dispute. The victim’s death transformed what began as a household argument into a homicide investigation. An autopsy was conducted by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office, which identified the victim. Investigators have continued coordinating with forensic specialists and reviewing evidence gathered from the residence. The case also highlights the heightened scrutiny that often accompanies shootings inside private homes, where witness accounts, physical evidence and firearm examinations can become critical in determining whether criminal charges are appropriate.
Brooks was arrested and booked into the Parker County Jail, where he remained held on a murder charge. A local magistrate set bond at $2 million. As of the latest public reports, the felony case had not yet been fully docketed online, and prosecutors had not publicly outlined additional court dates. The investigation remains active, with the Texas Rangers assisting local authorities. Detectives are expected to continue reviewing witness statements, forensic findings and any other evidence collected from the scene. Prosecutors will ultimately determine how the case proceeds through the court system and whether additional details presented during future hearings affect the allegations. For now, the murder charge remains pending, and Brooks is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Beyond the criminal allegations, the case has left a family and community confronting the loss of a young woman whose death occurred during a dispute inside her own home. Investigators have released only limited details about Rebekah Brooks’ life and the relationships involved in the confrontation. Friends, relatives and community members have been left waiting for additional information as authorities continue their work. Sheriff Authier said the sheriff’s office’s thoughts and prayers were with the victim’s family and loved ones. That expression of sympathy underscored the human toll behind the investigation, which now centers on how a domestic conflict escalated into a fatal shooting and whether the father’s actions amounted to murder under Texas law.
The case remained under investigation Wednesday, with Texas Rangers and local detectives continuing to examine evidence. The next major developments are expected to come through court filings, future hearings and any additional findings released by investigators as the homicide case moves forward.
Author note: Last updated June 24, 2026.