Charles Brooks Jr. was born on September 1, 1942, in Fort Worth, Texas. He was raised in a family in this city. As a student, he attended I.M. Terrell High School. During his time there, he played on the school's football team.

On December 14, 1976, Charles Brooks Jr. went to a used car lot in search of a vehicle to test drive. A mechanic named David Gregory went with him for the drive. After a short time, Brooks picked up an accomplice named Woody Loudres. Together, they put Gregory in the trunk of the car. Brooks and Loudres then drove to a motel.

At the motel, they bound Gregory to a chair using coat hangers. They gagged him with tape and then shot him in the head. After the murder, both men refused to disclose who actually fired the shot. Because of this, the state pursued the death penalty for both Brooks and Loudres.

On April 25, 1978, Brooks received a death sentence. Loudres also faced the death penalty, but his conviction was later overturned. He accepted a plea deal and was given a 40-year sentence instead. Loudres was paroled after serving 11 years.

Brooks was taken to death row at the Ellis Unit in Texas. In a significant legal decision, the Supreme Court rejected a petition that aimed to delay his execution. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles voted to go forward with the execution.

On December 7, 1982, Brooks was executed by lethal injection at the Huntsville Unit in Huntsville, Texas. The execution was historic as he was the first person to die by lethal injection in the United States. Before his execution, Brooks had a last meal that included a T-bone steak, french fries, and other items. He made a final statement and prayed, as he had converted to Islam during his time in prison. Brooks was 40 years old at the time of his execution.