Woman whose mom was shot, killed throughout custody switch in Moreno Valley

Mother, grandmother killed over custody battle

A man is accused of killing his ex-wife and her mother over an alleged custody battle.

A woman and her mother have both died in a shooting stemming from an alleged Inland Empire custody battle.

Last week, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department found Esmeralda Casillas, 36, of El Cajon, and her mother, Ofelia Casillas, 68, shot dead in a car in Moreno Valley. Both women were later pronounced dead at the hospital.

FOX 11 was told the shooting last Friday stemmed from a child custody swap. Both Esmeralda and Ofelia Casillas were preparing to take Esmeralda’s two twin sons to the younger Casillas’ ex-boyfriend as the custody swap is set to take place every Friday.

After the shooting, authorities arrested Salvador Velasquez, the twins’ father and Esmeralda Casillas’ ex-boyfriend, in connection with the double homicide.

FOX 11 was told that Velasquez’s parents are now looking after the twins, news that has left Esmeralda Casillas’ relatives concerned.

“We have the possibility that something bad happened to these children,” said Adriana Toledo, a relative of Esmeralda Casillas.

The family say they are speaking to Child Protection Services about how the twins’ custody situation will be handled going forward.

Anyone with information regarding the double homicide is asked to call investigators at either 951-955-2777 or 951-486-6700.

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