With heavy hearts, we mourn the tragic deaths of Dawn Estrella, 47, and Rakim-Shakur Brooks, 55, following a shooting at a home on Weyanoke Lane in Palm Coast, Florida, on Wednesday evening, September 30, 2026.
According to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting were received at approximately 10:18 p.m. Deputies arrived at the residence within five minutes and found Brooks deceased inside the garage from what investigators described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Deputies also found Dawn Estrella inside a bedroom suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began life-saving measures while personnel from the Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue responded. Estrella was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
Two other people were inside the home when the shooting occurred but were not physically injured, according to investigators. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit responded to the residence as detectives began working to establish what led to the deaths.
Investigators said their initial findings indicate that Brooks shot Estrella following an argument before taking his own life. Authorities said the couple had been married since March 2024 and were in the process of separating after being together for approximately nine years.
The investigation remains active, including efforts to determine how Brooks, whom authorities identified as a convicted felon, obtained the firearm used in the shooting. The sheriff’s office said the firearm had not been reported stolen.
For family members, friends, and those who knew Dawn and Rakim-Shakur, the tragedy has brought profound grief. Dawn’s death has left loved ones mourning a life suddenly taken, while the circumstances surrounding the incident have added another painful dimension to an already devastating loss.
The shooting has also renewed attention to domestic-violence resources in the Palm Coast community. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Family Life Center have encouraged anyone experiencing domestic violence or who may be in danger to seek help.
As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Dawn Estrella will be remembered by those closest to her for the life she lived and the relationships she shared with family and friends.
May Dawn Estrella be remembered with dignity and compassion, and may her loved ones and everyone affected by this tragedy find strength and support during this difficult time.
