For months, viewers have been glued to the suspenseful mystery of EJ’s shooting. When EJ collapsed from a bullet wound, the immediate question was simple: who could be behind such a brazen attack? Salem is no stranger to betrayal and revenge, but the possibility that Rachel, a child once seen as innocent and sheltered, might have been the one to pull the trigger has fans buzzing. Could Brady’s daughter truly be responsible for this violent act? And if she is, how will her father handle the truth?

EJ’s Shooting: A Crime Cloaked in Confusion

The shooting of EJ DiMera shook Salem to its core. As the town’s residents scrambled to make sense of the attack, rumors and accusations swirled. Many believed EJ had plenty of enemies, and they weren’t wrong—he’s been embroiled in countless rivalries. But what shocked fans most was the growing suspicion that Rachel, of all people, might have been involved.

Initially, Rachel was said to be asleep during the shooting. Kristen DiMera, her mother, was quick to defend her daughter and assure everyone that she was safely tucked away at the time. But Kristen’s word isn’t exactly rock-solid. Her history of lies, manipulation, and cover-ups has long left Salem residents—and viewers—doubting her every move. Did Kristen fabricate Rachel’s alibi to protect her child? And if so, what truth is she desperately trying to keep buried?

Rachel’s Motive: A Daughter’s Loyalty and a Taste for Revenge

Digging deeper, Rachel’s potential motive is chillingly believable. Over the years, she’s been forced to watch the tension between EJ and Kristen spiral out of control. EJ’s threats against her mother were enough to make even the toughest Salem resident nervous. For a child like Rachel, who has grown up in a world filled with secrets, betrayals, and power struggles, the emotional toll must have been overwhelming.

What if Rachel finally snapped? What if she felt so protective of Kristen that she decided to silence EJ herself? Imagine a young girl, caught in a storm of anger, loyalty, and confusion, picking up a gun and taking action in a split-second decision that could haunt her for life. This theory, once unthinkable, suddenly makes perfect sense when we consider the deep and complicated family ties at play.

If Rachel did pull the trigger, it wasn’t just a crime—it was an act of misguided love and loyalty, a desperate attempt to shield her mother from harm. That makes her secret all the more devastating for Brady, who has always tried to protect Rachel from the very kind of darkness she may have fallen into.

A New Face, A New Rachel

Adding even more fuel to the fire is the recasting of Rachel Black. Alice Holly has stepped into the role, taking over from Finley Rose Slater. Recasting a character so pivotal to a major storyline often signals big shifts ahead, and this time is no different. According to Eric Martsolf, Alice brings a maturity and intensity to Rachel that will push the character into bold new territory.

This change isn’t just cosmetic—it’s a clear indication that Rachel’s arc is about to explode onto center stage. With Alice Holly embodying Rachel, fans can expect a darker, more layered version of the character, one capable of carrying the weight of such a shocking secret. It’s no coincidence that this casting shift comes right as Rachel’s possible involvement in EJ’s shooting is about to rock Salem.