The quiet neighborhood of Palm Coast was shaken late Wednesday night when deputies found 47‑year‑old Dawn Estrella dead inside her home. She had been shot multiple times in the bedroom. Despite quick response from fire and rescue crews, she was pronounced dead at 10:34 p.m. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the tragedy, saying the call came in just after 10:18 p.m.
Inside the garage, officers discovered 55‑year‑old Rakim‑Shakur Brooks with what appeared to be a self‑inflicted gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators believe Brooks shot Estrella before turning the gun on himself.
Two other people were inside the house when the shooting happened. Deputies said they were unharmed and later interviewed as witnesses. Their accounts helped detectives piece together the moments leading up to the violence.
According to investigators, the couple had been together for nearly nine years and married in March 2024. But their relationship had been unraveling. Witnesses told detectives the two were in the middle of an argument when gunfire erupted. The couple had reportedly been in the process of separating.
Detectives from the Major Case Unit and Crime Scene Investigation Unit are now working to understand how Brooks obtained the firearm. They are also reviewing evidence from the home and speaking with family members to build a clearer timeline of events.
The deaths of Estrella and Brooks have left friends and relatives stunned. Neighbors described them as familiar faces in the community, making the sudden loss even harder to process. Loved ones are now left to grapple with grief and unanswered questions.
Authorities are urging anyone facing relationship struggles or feeling unsafe to seek help. Local resources remain available, and officials stressed that in any immediate emergency, calling 911 is the safest step. The investigation continues as detectives work to close the gaps in this heartbreaking case.





