Man Allegedly Killed Girlfriend’s Ex-Boyfriend and Ex’s Girlfriend While 3 Kids Were in Nearby Van

Two couples are now at the center of a deadly investigation in San Diego after a man and woman were found fatally shot in the early hours of Monday, Jan. 19.

Officers responded to an anonymous tip around 12:26 a.m. to the 100 block of 27th Street, according to a Tuesday, Jan. 20 news release from the San Diego Police Department. When officers arrived, they located a man and a woman suffering from gunshot wounds. Police attempted lifesaving measures, including CPR, but both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities identified the victims as Ruben Chavez, 31, and Evelyn Virgen, 28.

Police also reported finding three young children — all under the age of two — inside a nearby parked vehicle that appeared to be registered to Virgen. In a Jan. 20 report, NBC San Diego said the children were Virgen’s. Homicide detectives later determined Chavez and Virgen were in a relationship, police said.

Investigators believe the couple had been involved in an ongoing dispute with Chavez’s ex-girlfriend, Princess Perez, 25, and her current boyfriend, Ramses “Rex” Morales, 21, according to police.

“Both Perez and Morales had been in the area when the shooting occurred, but fled prior to police arrival,” authorities said.

Police said the two were later detained by Border Patrol at the San Ysidro Port of Entry as they attempted to re-enter the United States at approximately 10 a.m. Monday.

On Thursday, Jan. 22, Morales appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to murder charges, NBC San Diego reported. Perez also appeared in court, facing an accessory charge for allegedly driving Morales to Mexico after the killings. She pleaded not guilty as well.

Morales is also charged with three counts of child endangerment connected to Virgen’s children. Prosecutors have alleged special circumstances that could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted, depending on whether capital punishment is pursued.

“We have alleged in the complaint two special circumstances, one of which is multiple murders,” deputy district attorney Martin Doyle said, per the news station. “The other is killing of the witness, at least in respect to the killing of the female victim.”

“It’s a complicated family situation. The investigation’s ongoing as to everybody’s respective relationships,” Doyle said, per CBS 8.

CBS 8, citing court records, also reported that Chavez was involved in a custody dispute with Perez involving their two children. The outlet said he was seeking joint custody but only had supervised visitation rights.

Perez and Morales were held without bail following Thursday’s arraignment, and the investigation remains ongoing.

In the aftermath of the killings, Chavez’s cousin created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help support Chavez and Virgen’s nine surviving children.

“They leave behind nine children whose lives have been forever changed,” the fundraiser states. “Three of the youngest children were present at the time of the tragedy and will carry the trauma of that day for the rest of their lives.”