In California, a 25-year-old woman and her 21-year-old boyfriend are facing charges for allegedly murdering her former partner and his new girlfriend. The shooting occurred on a street, with three small children just a short distance away inside a minivan.

Authorities have apprehended Princess Perez and Ramses “Rex” Morales, linking them to the deaths of 31-year-old Ruben Chavez and 28-year-old Evelyn Virgen. Perez was reportedly embroiled in a custody dispute with Chavez over their young son.

The San Diego Police Department reported that officers were alerted around 12:26 a.m. on Monday by an anonymous caller about two individuals lying still on the 100 block of 27th Street in Grant Hill. The caller mentioned that at least one appeared to be bleeding.

Responders arriving at the location discovered Chavez and Virgen, both declared deceased from what authorities termed “homicidal violence.”

The police statement noted, “Officers checked a vehicle parked nearby the victims and found three young children, all under the age of 2, who appeared unharmed.”

Authorities placed the children into protective custody.

The suspects appeared in court on Thursday where Morales pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder with special circumstances of multiple murders, as well as three counts of child endangerment, local CBS and CW affiliate KFMB reported. Prosecutors alleged that Morales used a shotgun to kill both victims.

If convicted of the special circumstances murder, Morales could face the death penalty.

Perez is currently charged as an accessory to both murders. Prosecutors asserted that she drove Morales to the location of the murder and transported him across the border to Mexico afterward. They were arrested while attempting to return to the U.S. through the San Ysidro port of entry.

According to local Fox affiliate KUSI, the investigation into Perez remains ongoing, evidence is still being reviewed, and additional charges are possible.

Court documents obtained by the station reportedly revealed that Chavez and Perez were in the midst of a custody battle over their two children at the time of Chavez’s death. Chavez was only permitted to have supervised visits with the kids and was seeking joint custody.

“It’s a complicated family situation. The investigation’s ongoing as to everybody’s respective relationships,” an assistant district attorney said Thursday.

The ADA said the number of children involved in the case made it a truly “terrible situation.”

“They’ve been affected by horrible street violence,” he continued. “Our heart goes out to them and their families and we’ll do our best to see that justice occurs in this case.”

A GoFundMe page started by Chavez’s cousin said the couple left behind a total of nine children and that the three youngest — including a 3-month-old boy named Ruben Jr. — were “present at the time of the tragedy and will carry the trauma of that day for the rest of their lives.”

“We are raising funds to help cover funeral expenses and to support their children, especially the youngest ones, who will need extra care, love, and resources in the days and years ahead,” the fundraising page says. “Any contribution, no matter the amount, is deeply appreciated.”