Girl, four, killed in alleged custody dispute shooting in Houston
A mother allegedly shot her four-year-old daughter dead in Texas just hours after losing a custody battle to her ex-husband, a private equity lawyer. Cibelle Savella, 34, reportedly opened fire on her daughter Vivian in her partner's townhouse in a gated Houston community before turning the gun on herself and surviving. The killing represents a tragic intersection of bitter family disputes and mental health crises.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, shortly before 5:45pm, just hours after a Harris County family court judge ruled in favour of the child's father, Aaron Savella, 37. The couple married in 2020 and divorced in 2024, but continued battling over custody; Cibelle was ordered to hand Vivian over to Aaron that evening. She instead allegedly shot the child at point-blank range and attempted suicide; she remains hospitalised in critical condition and is expected to survive, whilst witnesses inside the home attempted CPR on both the child and mother.
- Mother allegedly kills four-year-old daughter hours after losing custody ruling
- Child's father won custody; mother ordered to hand her over that evening
- Custody dispute ongoing since 2022; couple divorced in 2024
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Private equity lawyer won full custody of his daughter, 4. Hours later she was executed at gated community home, with girl’s heiress mother now in hospital”.