Houston mother dies after allegedly killing 4-year-old daughter following custody ruling

A Houston mother accused of fatally shooting her 4-year-old daughter, Vivian Savella, before turning the gun on herself has died from her injuries, police said.

Houston police responded to a home in the 300 block of Terra Reserve at around 5:45 p.m. Monday. Officers found Vivian dead from an apparent gunshot wound and her mother critically injured after what investigators say was a self-inflicted gunshot.

The mother was taken to hospital and was pronounced dead the following day, according to police.

Sources close to the family said a judge had recently granted primary custody of Vivian to her father, and the child was expected to be transferred to him shortly afterward.

Vivian’s family said they were devastated by her death. The Houston Police Department’s homicide division is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.