Days of Our Lives Shocker: EJ’s Shooting Revealed to Be Rachel Black’s Doing – Salem Faces Its Darkest Reckoning

Salem has never been a stranger to scandal. Affairs, betrayals, power struggles, and shocking resurrections are the lifeblood of Days of Our Lives. But even in a town built on secrets and scandal, the latest revelation has left viewers—and Salem’s residents—absolutely stunned.

The mystery surrounding the shooting of EJ DiMera, one of Salem’s most notorious and polarizing figures, has dominated storylines for weeks. Fans speculated wildly: Was it a revenge plot from one of EJ’s many enemies? A business rival finally striking back? A jilted lover seeking justice?

But the writers have now delivered one of the most daring, polarizing, and emotionally devastating twists in recent soap history: the shooter is none other than Rachel Black—a child.

This bombshell has not only fractured Salem’s already fragile social fabric, but it has ignited fiery debates among fans, critics, and characters alike.

The Unthinkable Culprit

When EJ DiMera was gunned down, suspicion immediately fell on Salem’s most usual suspects. EJ has spent years manipulating allies, betraying family, and accruing enemies by the dozen. But Rachel Black—innocent, young, and seemingly incapable of understanding the true gravity of such violence—was the last name anyone expected.

And yet, the decision to make Rachel the culprit has been described by insiders as “a stroke of controversial genius.”

Rachel’s age is precisely what makes this twist so gut-wrenching. She is not a hardened criminal, not a schemer in the DiMera mold. She is a child, shaped by the chaotic, toxic environment of her parents, Brady Black and Kristen DiMera. The writers’ choice forces both Salem and viewers to confront a harrowing truth: children inherit not only their parents’ legacies but their sins, too.

The Parenting Paradox: Brady and Kristen’s Fatal Flaws

To understand how Rachel could have been pushed into such a devastating act, we must examine the turbulent lives of her parents.

Brady Black has always been defined by his good intentions—intentions that so often end in disaster. His love for Rachel is genuine, fierce, and protective, but it has also blinded him to her darker impulses. Kristen DiMera, meanwhile, has been one of Salem’s most complex figures—capable of staggering cruelty, raw vulnerability, and ruthless love.

Together, their parenting has created a paradox. They love Rachel too much—or perhaps not wisely enough. Time and again, her misbehavior was brushed aside as “a phase” or “just spirited.” They thought they were protecting her, but in reality, they were building a storm that would one day erupt. That day has come.

Rachel is not a villain, but a mirror. Her act is the explosive culmination of years of instability, indulgence, and neglect. And now, Brady and Kristen must face the devastating question: did they create the very monster they feared most?

EJ’s Secret: A Dangerous Game of Silence

If Rachel’s shocking reveal is the spark, EJ’s response is the wildfire waiting to ignite.

EJ DiMera is no stranger to manipulation. For years, he has thrived on secrets, using them as weapons to maintain his power and protect the DiMera legacy. But this secret is different. The bullet that nearly killed him came from the hand of his young niece. And rather than reveal the truth, EJ is choosing silence.

Why? Strategy.

EJ knows exposing Rachel would destroy Kristen, shatter Brady, and drag the DiMera name into chaos. More importantly, he sees the secret as leverage. With his relationship with his son Johnny fragile at best, EJ views Rachel’s secret as currency—a way to prove his loyalty, while simultaneously tightening his control over the family.

But playing this kind of game with such volatile information is risky. EJ may believe he can outmaneuver Salem as he always has, but secrets in this town rarely stay buried. When the truth inevitably surfaces, it may not only cost him control, but also what little remains of his fractured family.

Kristen’s Descent: A Mother’s Breaking Point

While EJ calculates, Kristen DiMera collapses.

For all her sins, Kristen’s love for Rachel has always been ferocious. To learn that her daughter has crossed such an unthinkable line devastates her to her core. She blames herself, she blames Brady, she blames Salem—but most of all, she drowns in guilt.

Kristen’s anguish transforms her. She is no longer simply Salem’s infamous schemer, plotting her next conquest. She is a mother unraveling before our eyes, spiraling between sorrow, rage, and desperate denial.

Will this push Kristen into a redemptive arc, where she takes full accountability for Rachel’s actions and her own role in them? Or will her grief fuel her darker instincts, driving her back into the ruthless woman Salem has long feared?

One thing is certain: Kristen is a powder keg, and Salem should brace itself for the explosion.

Salem’s Fractured Web

The repercussions of Rachel’s actions extend far beyond EJ, Kristen, and Brady. This is not just one storyline. It is a seismic event that shakes the entire canvas of Days of Our Lives.

• Brady Black must now reckon with his failures as a father, torn between unconditional love for Rachel and horror at what she has done. His decisions in the days ahead could either heal or completely destroy his family.
• Johnny DiMera is caught in the crossfire, forced to choose between loyalty to his father and the damning truth about his cousin. His relationship with EJ, already fragile, could either be mended by secrecy or shattered by betrayal.
• The Hortons, the Kiriakises, and Salem’s wider community are inevitably drawn into the fallout. Every family in town will feel the ripple effects as alliances shift, grudges reignite, and new rivalries emerge.

The writers have crafted a masterstroke of storytelling. By placing a child at the center of this act of violence, they’ve ensured the emotional stakes are higher than ever. The shockwaves will touch every corner of Salem, from its most powerful dynasties to its most vulnerable hearts.

The Controversy

Outside the fictional walls of Salem, the decision has sparked heated debate among fans. Some hail it as one of the boldest moves in modern soap opera history—a storyline that dares to push boundaries and challenge its audience. Others see it as too dark, too unsettling, even for a show built on scandal.

But whether fans approve or disapprove, one truth remains: nobody can stop talking about it. And in the world of soaps, that’s the ultimate victory.

What Comes Next?

The fallout from Rachel’s shocking act is only beginning. Will EJ’s silence hold? Can Brady and Kristen come together for their daughter, or will they tear each other apart in grief and blame? Will Rachel herself face accountability—or be shielded once again by the adults who enabled her?

One thing is certain: Days of Our Lives has once again proven why it remains one of television’s most addictive dramas. Salem is a town where secrets never stay buried, where the past always collides with the present, and where one act—especially one as devastating as this—can change everything forever.

As Salem braces for the storm, fans are left breathless, waiting for the next shocking twist. Because if history has taught us anything, it’s that in Days of Our Lives, the biggest shock is always the one still to come.