An Indiana jury has found a 55-year-old man guilty of murder in the death of his girlfriend, rejecting his claim that he "barely touched the trigger" during a violent domestic dispute. Reginald Brooks was convicted in the shooting death of 50-year-old Sajdah Abdur-Rabb, whose family described the loss as shattering their world.
Background
The tragedy unfolded in Fort Wayne, Indiana, beginning with a heated argument on Jan. 29, 2025. According to court records reviewed by Law&Crime, Brooks was reportedly drinking and threatened to kill Abdur-Rabb and her son. The victim, a mother of nine children with the youngest being 11 years old, was also a grandmother to 10 grandchildren.
The following day, the couple was at a mobile home located off Dunkelberg Road when the argument turned physical. Brooks allegedly reached for a firearm, and the two scrambled for control of the weapon. The gun discharged, striking Abdur-Rabb. Police responded to the scene and found her suffering from a gunshot wound. She was transported to a hospital where she was later pronounced dead.
The Charges
Brooks was charged with murder in connection with the death of Sajdah Abdur-Rabb, as detailed in Allen Superior Court records. When authorities detained him at the scene, he reportedly told officers that he had "barely touched the trigger" before the weapon fired. Despite his explanation, prosecutors pursued the murder charge, arguing that the evidence contradicted the defendant's account of the struggle.
Regional CBS affiliate WANE reported that the jury returned a guilty verdict this week. The conviction marks a significant moment for the victim’s family, who had expressed their grief and shock in a now-inactive GoFundMe campaign. "Never would we have thought this would be our reality," the fundraiser stated, noting that "Domestic violence has shattered our world."
Key Takeaways
- Reginald Brooks, 55, was found guilty of murder in the death of his girlfriend, Sajdah Abdur-Rabb, 50.
- The incident occurred in a mobile home in Fort Wayne, Indiana, following a domestic argument.
- Brooks claimed he "barely touched the trigger" during a struggle for the gun, a defense rejected by the jury.
- Abdur-Rabb was a mother of nine and a grandmother of 10; her family cited domestic violence as the cause of their tragedy.
- Brooks faces a potential sentence of up to 85 years in prison.
What's Next
Brooks is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 30. With a guilty verdict for murder already in hand, the focus now shifts to the sentencing phase, where he faces up to 85 years in the Indiana Department of Correction. The outcome will determine the length of his incarceration for the killing that left a large family devastated.