LIBERTY CITY, TX – On the afternoon of Monday, September 1, 2025, the Gregg County Sheriff’s Office responded to a tragic shooting at Hugh Camp Park that left two people dead and a third critically injured.
When deputies arrived, personnel from Christus EMS, troopers with the Department of Public Safety, and members of Gregg County Emergency Services District Two were already administering life-saving measures. Despite their efforts, 16-year-old Hailey Nicole Blake and her father, 49-year-old Shawn Glen Blake, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspect, identified as Christopher Wayne Hicks Jr. of Longview, who is believed to have been Hailey’s boyfriend, was found with what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was transported to a local hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
Investigators believe this was a targeted incident, not a random attack. No other injuries were reported at the park, and officials confirmed that two off-duty first responders who were nearby attempted to provide aid but were not involved in the altercation.
The Gregg County Sheriff’s Office has asked that anyone who witnessed the shooting, or who has information about the case, contact the Criminal Investigation Division to assist in the ongoing investigation.
