Days of our Lives recap for Thursday, April 3, 2025: Chad finds EJ in a pool of blood

JJ continued to knock on the Hernandez door, looking for Gabi, but the house was dark and nobody answered. JJ finally gave up and returned to his desk at the Salem PD. However, he couldn't focus on work and called Gabi. She didn't pick up, so he left a voicemail asking if she wanted to join him for a late night drink.

After Roman took a call from Kate, Johnny snuck behind the bar at The Brady Pub and lifted the gun out of the lockbox.

In the park, Kate spoke with Roman on the phone and told him that Rex was in an accident. He was fine, but Kate was worried. EJ had threatened her children, so she feared Rex's accident was an accident at all. "If EJ was behind this, he will regret it, Roman," Kate said while holding a gun.

After gloating to Stefano's portrait that he has beaten everyone who has tried to bring him down, EJ lifted his glass for a toast. He barely had a chance to take a sip before he saw a mystery person enter the living room and shoot him point-blank in the chest.

After EJ fell to the floor, Chad entered the house. He was horrified when she saw his brother lying there in a pool of blood, gasping for breath, and quickly called 911.

At the hospital, Kayla thanked Cat for stepping up to raise funds to keep the hospital open. When Kayla learned there was a gunshot wound in the ER, she stepped away. As soon as Kayla was gone, Cat spotted Chad exiting the elevator with blood on his hands. "My brother. He was shot," Chad said.

Cat did her best to comfort Chad, who remembered EJ being there for him in he hospital the night that Abby died. Chad lamented the recent fight he had with EJ over what The Spectator printed, but he didn't think much of the argument then. "You always think you are going to have time. I should know better by now I supposed," he said.

Suddenly, JJ appeared to take his statement. "I don't know anything. I mean, if you want a list of my brother's enemies, we're gonna be here all night," he said. JJ still insisted he had to know what had happened, so Chad gave him the basics. He found EJ on the floor, called an ambulance, and now they were at the hospital. Chad admitted he hadn't seen or heard anyone near the house when he got there.

After JJ left, Cat offered to help Chad call any family members who needed to know about EJ's condition. Chad said he would do it himself. "I don't even know how they're going to react. Half of them are going to rejoice," Chad said ironically.

When Kate returned to the pub, she frantically called Roman and left a voicemail. She was surprised to see Ava appear with her suitcase. "I'm leaving Salem," Ava announced. She was moving to Hong Kong to be with Tripp and Wendy. Kate wanted to know what had happened with Brady.

"I ended it. And with Charlie dead and Henry and Tripp gone, there's really nothing left for me here," Ava said. She noted how Rachel Blake had wanted everyone to think she was in Hong Kong, but now the story would be the truth.

"I thought you recanted that story about Kristen's mother," Kate said. Ava replied that she had because she had no choice, and now Kristen and Rachel Blake were getting away with what happened. "And EJ?" Kate inquired. Ava didn't respond to that question.

When Roman returned and saw Ava bringing more luggage from upstairs, Ava told him her news. He thought it was a sudden decision but wished Ava luck in her future endeavors. Ava thanked Roman for being so kind to her. Roman admitted she was a good tenant, and he was sorry to see her go. Ava said she might be back again one day, but right now, she couldn't wait to get out of Salem.

After Ava left with all her worldly belongings, she walked through the park and dumped a gun in a trash can.

Back at the pub, Kate retired to their room upstairs while Roman opened his lockbox behind the bar to find it empty. He then took a gun from his pocket and placed it inside.

Chanel returned home to find Paulina sleeping on the couch. Chanel woke her mother and told her she was worried about Johnny. She had been calling him all evening but he hadn't picked up. "Maybe I should just go by the pub just to make sure everything is okay," a frantic Chanel said.

Paulina tried calming Chanel down, but she was still worried. Johnny had been through so much the last few weeks that she feared for her husband's mental health. "Johnny realizes he wouldn't be here if his father hadn't...well...he's struggling, and I don't know what to say or what to do."

Paulina advised Chanel to just be there for her husband the way that Paulina was there for Chanel. "You've been going through it, too," Paulina reminded her daughter. Chanel felt for Johnny because he blamed himself for the adoption falling through. "I'll have none of that sins of the father nonsense," Paulina said. "There's only one person to blame, and that's EJ." Chanel agreed.

Paulina was also taken aback when she learned that Chanel had confronted EJ earlier in the evening. She was also surprised to hear that Johnny said that his father was dead to him. Chanel remained angry. "If EJ were out of our lives, we would all be so much better off," Chanel declared.

Chanel was also still crushed that the adoption fell through, which led Paulina to remember how EJ was responsible. She got a look on her face that implied she was keeping a secret from Chanel. Paulina was ready to spill but didn't get a chance because Johnny walked in, much to Chanel's relief.

He explained that he was with Roman and had turned his notifications off, so he didn't see any of Chanel's messages. Johnny said he had also gone somewhere else before losing his train of thought. Chanel asked where he had gone, but Johnny seemed to lie when he told her that he went to the park to clear his head. Chanel could see how distracted Johnny was and worried even more.

Just then, Chad called to tell Johnny that his father had been shot and was in surgery in critical condition. "I see," was all that Johnny could manage.

When he hung up, Johnny told Chanel what happened. She said she'd get her jacket and go with him. "Go with me where?" Johnny asked. "To the hospital," Chanel replied. "Why would I go to the hospital? I don't care what happens to him. He got what he deserved," Johnny said. Chanel was stunned by her husband's attitude.

At the hospital, Chad finally spotted Kayla with a somber look on her face and asked how his brother was. Chad and Cat braced themselves for what Kayla had to say.

Catch all-new episodes of Days of our Lives weekdays on Peacock.