Police say the suspects were stopped at San Ysidro after leaving for Mexico hours after the shooting.
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — A man and woman were arrested Tuesday after U.S. agents detained them at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in the fatal shooting of two people in Grant Hill early Monday, authorities said; three small children were found unharmed nearby and placed in protective custody.
The victims were identified as Ruben Chavez, 31, and Evelyn Virgen, 28. Investigators said the suspects, Princess Perez, 25, and Ramses “Rex” Morales, 21, knew the victims and that an ongoing dispute preceded the shooting. Police said Perez is Chavez’s former girlfriend and that a custody battle framed part of the conflict. Detectives said Perez and Morales left San Diego for Mexico after the killing, then tried to return and were stopped at the border, interviewed by homicide detectives, and booked on two counts of murder each.
Officers were called at about 12:30 a.m. Monday to 27th Street and Imperial Avenue on a report of two people down in the road. They found Chavez and Virgen mortally wounded. Shell casings were collected at the scene. A van parked near the intersection held three children, all under age 2 and identified by police as Virgen’s; they were uninjured and taken into county care. Residents said they heard two gunshots and watched as police sealed the block. “It was crazy,” one neighbor said, describing lights and sirens filling the street in minutes.
After the killings, investigators said the suspects traveled into Mexico. The pair returned to the San Ysidro crossing Tuesday, where Border Patrol agents detained them for questioning. While being processed at the port, homicide detectives interviewed Perez and Morales, then arrested both. Authorities have not said who fired the shots, what kind of gun was used, or whether any weapon has been recovered. Detectives are seeking video from nearby homes and businesses to trace movements before and after the attack.
Grant Hill sits southeast of downtown, a mix of older homes and small storefronts along Imperial Avenue. By daylight Monday, yellow tape cordoned off the intersection as technicians photographed markers and canvassed for witnesses. Friends said Virgen’s relatives were working to bring the children out of protective custody. A friend speaking on behalf of Chavez’s family said relatives were grieving and worried for all nine children connected to the two couples. Community members left candles on a curb not far from where officers first responded.
Prosecutors are reviewing the case ahead of an expected arraignment Thursday. Each defendant faces two murder counts; more details may emerge in court filings, including any allegations that could affect potential sentencing. Police said the investigation remains active as they await autopsy findings, lab results on shell casings, and additional witness interviews. Authorities urged anyone with information to contact detectives as they piece together a timeline from the first 12:30 a.m. call to the border stop that followed.
As evening fell Tuesday, the block reopened and the van was towed from the neighborhood as evidence. Families on both sides were making arrangements for memorials and care for the children. Police said updates are likely after Thursday’s court appearance and once medical examiners finalize reports.
Author note: Last updated January 21, 2026.