Christopher Lee "Chris" Brooks, a 50-year-old male from Gastonia, North Carolina, passed away on February 22, 2021. Born on September 18, 1970, in Gaston County, he was the son of Peggy Phillips Brooks and the late Roy Lee Brooks. Chris was survived by his mother, two sons, Dusty Rayfield and Drew Brooks, a sister, Tammy Dotson, his partner, Lynn Raby, and two grandchildren.
A graveside service was held on March 1, 2021, at Westview Gardens in Bessemer City, officiated by Pastor Scott Rudisill.
The circumstances surrounding Chris Brooks' death were tragic. On the evening of February 22, 2021, a double homicide occurred on Woodleaf Drive in Gastonia. Chris Brooks was found dead at the scene, and two other individuals were wounded. The next day, 54-year-old Matthew Christopher Allison succumbed to his injuries at a hospital. The Gaston County Police Department launched an investigation into the incident, which led to the arrest of three suspects.
The first suspect, 29-year-old Jordan Cameron Moses of Dallas, North Carolina, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Moses had been on the run but was taken into custody on March 17, 2021. The second suspect, 24-year-old Charlie James Stiles of Gastonia, was also charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted first-degree murder. Stiles was the first of the three suspects to be taken into custody on March 1, 2021. The third suspect, 19-year-old Darrick Lamer Johnson of Gastonia, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree attempted murder. Johnson was arrested with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals and was in custody by March 8, 2021.
The investigation into the double homicide revealed that the shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. on February 22, 2021. The Gaston County Police Department encouraged anyone with information about the case to contact Detective M. Rheinson or Crimestoppers. The arrests of Moses, Stiles, and Johnson brought some measure of closure to the community, but the tragic loss of Christopher Lee "Chris" Brooks and Matthew Christopher Allison left a lasting impact on their families and friends.
