On January 19, 2026, shortly after midnight, an anonymous tip brought San Diego Police Department officers to a frightening sight in the Grant Hill area, where two people had been shot and killed on the street.
Responding around 12:30 a.m. to the 100 block of 27th Street in Grant Hill, San Diego, California, officers found 28-year-old Evelyn Virgen and 31-year-old Ruben Chavez deceased from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate CPR attempts by first responders, both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, launching a double homicide investigation in this urban enclave.
Nearby, in a parked vehicle close to the bodies, officers discovered three young children unharmed but alone, prompting an urgent welfare check. The children, all under school age, were taken into protective custody by Child Welfare Services, later confirmed to be the offspring of Evelyn Virgen, adding a layer of heartbreak to the violent discovery on the quiet block.
Virgen and Chavez, both San Diego residents, were in a dating relationship at the time of their deaths. Investigators uncovered an ongoing dispute involving Chavez’s ex-girlfriend, 25-year-old Princess Perez, and her current boyfriend, 21-year-old Ramses “Rex” Morales, who were reportedly in the area during the shooting but fled before police arrival.
The probe quickly focused on this interpersonal conflict, with evidence suggesting a targeted attack rather than random violence in the 100 block of 27th Street. Homicide detectives processed the scene extensively, gathering ballistics and witness statements while the neighborhood remained secured in the early morning hours.
Later that day, Perez and Morales were apprehended at the San Ysidro Port of Entry as they attempted to cross into Mexico, marking a swift resolution to the suspect pursuit. Both were booked on two counts of murder each, interviewed by detectives, and held in custody as the case in Grant Hill continues to unfold with community support rallying for the affected children and families.
