Girl, 12, who shot her dad in murder pact, pictured for first time

Publish date: 2024-05-22

A schoolgirl who shot her father as part of a pre-planned murder-pact with a friend before turning the gun on herself can be pictured for the first time.

Emma Brown, 12, shot her father, Daniel Brown, 38, in the abdomen at their home in Poolville, Texas, around 30 miles from Fort Worth on September 20, 2022. Emma shot herself in the head and died in hospital two days later. 

Exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com show the father, who survived, and daughter smiling as they posed with a rifle and handguns together before the horror incident.

The seventh grade student had plotted to kill her entire family and pets, along with another 12-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas, though it is unclear how they met. 

Parker County District Attorney's office confirmed that the second girl, who has not been identified, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.

Emma Brown, 12,  (left) shot Daniel Brown, 38, (right) in the abdomen at their home in Poolville, Texas, around 30 miles from Fort Worth on September 20 last year

Emma Brown, 12,  (left) shot Daniel Brown, 38, (right) in the abdomen at their home in Poolville, Texas, around 30 miles from Fort Worth on September 20 last year

The grade seven pupil had plotted to kill her entire family and pets, along with another 12-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas, though it is unclear how they met

The grade seven pupil had plotted to kill her entire family and pets, along with another 12-year-old girl from Lufkin, Texas, though it is unclear how they met

A spokeswoman was unable to give details of the sentence handed to the girl, because of Texas state law protecting the identity of juveniles charged with a crime.

They added: 'The charge was not dismissed. The allegations were fully prosecuted with a final disposition of the case occurring on March 14, 2023.'

A lawyer for the surviving girl did not respond to a DailyMail.com request for comment.

Brown died two days after shooting herself in the head, with police confirming that she had been planning to drive 230 miles to pick up her pal before driving to Georgia.

A dispatch call from the night of the incident reveals that Brown took off on foot down the driveway, making it just a few hundred yards before shooting herself in the head. 

The emergency services worker can be heard saying 'the daughter just shot him' in the master bedroom, after saying 'nothing', and it was understood she had been getting ready for bed.

Officers later discovered the schoolgirl lying on the dirt road, with a handgun underneath her body.

The family home appeared to have installed a gate at the front of the property, with a 'No Trespassing' sign put up shortly after the tragedy. 

Brown died two days after shooting herself in the head, with police confirming that she had been planning to drive 230 miles to pick up her pal before driving to Georgia

Brown died two days after shooting herself in the head, with police confirming that she had been planning to drive 230 miles to pick up her pal before driving to Georgia

The family home appeared to have installed a gate at the front of the property, with a ¿No Trespassing¿ sign put up shortly after the tragedy

The family home appeared to have installed a gate at the front of the property, with a 'No Trespassing' sign put up shortly after the tragedy

Brown's parents, Daniel and Lea, (pictured) have been unavailable for comment regarding the tragedy

Brown's parents, Daniel and Lea, (pictured) have been unavailable for comment regarding the tragedy 

A source told DailyMail.com: 'It's an awful tragedy. Her parents didn't know anything about the other girl, they still don't.' 

Her father also has an FFL license, meaning that he is legally able to store and sell firearms at the family home.

Brown also went to a fathers and daughters dance at Peaster Elementary, where she was a pupil, though it is unclear if she attended with her father.

Daniel was released from hospital shortly after the incident and is expected to make a full recovery, according to authorities.

Relatives of Brown did not respond to multiple requests for comment when approached by DailyMail.com.

A cause of death for Brown was given as suicide by Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office, with the autopsy report sealed.

Parker County Sheriff's Office and Peaster Elementary did not respond to a request for comment by DailyMail.com.

Mayor of Peaster, Don Smelly, said he was 'unable to comment' on the incident.

A spokesman for Parker County Sheriff's Office said previously: 'The 12-year-old female juvenile involved in the shooting incident in northwestern Parker County on Sept. 20, 2022, succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 22, at a local hospital.

Brown went to a fathers and daughters dance at Peaster Elementary, where she was a pupil, though it is unclear if she attended with her father

Brown went to a fathers and daughters dance at Peaster Elementary, where she was a pupil, though it is unclear if she attended with her father

A dispatch call from the night of the incident reveals that Brown took off on foot down the driveway, making it just a few hundred yards before killing herself

A dispatch call from the night of the incident reveals that Brown took off on foot down the driveway, making it just a few hundred yards before killing herself

Her father (right)  also has an FFL licence, meaning that he is legally able to store and sell firearms at the family home

Her father (right)  also has an FFL licence, meaning that he is legally able to store and sell firearms at the family home

A cause of death for Brown was given as suicide by Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office, with the autopsy report sealed

A cause of death for Brown was given as suicide by Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office, with the autopsy report sealed

'The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy and ruled the cause and manner of death as a suicide by gunshot wound of the head. 

'Her father, who was the victim of a gunshot wound to the abdomen was recently released from the hospital is expected to recover.

'The second 12-year-old female from Lufkin, who Sheriff's investigators believe was involved with the planning of the shooting, was taken into custody last week and has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder.'

It remains unclear why the girls wanted to kill their families and run away.

'It doesn't matter if they live in a small town or a big city. Things like this can happen, unfortunately,' Lufkin Communications Director, Jessica Pebsworth, said.

'I will say that this case is definitely a time to remind parents that it's very important to know who your children are friends with, whether that's in the classroom, social media apps, Snapchat, TikTok and then also gaming platforms.'

Cops said they are withholding the names of the girls due to their age, and are also not releasing the name of the wounded father to protect the kids.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2Bc36RcGhubV98trO4jGppZquYpMFusMCdZKatopmys3nPmpqtZaCesLXB0Z6bZqyZorJvtNOmow%3D%3D