Selena Felix, 30, was fatally shot multiple times outside her Phoenix home around 3:30 a.m. on December 22, 2025, in an apparent murder-suicide tied to a custody dispute. Alexis Torres, 23, her ex-partner who court documents confirm is not the father of the involved child, allegedly abducted Felix’s 3-year-old from her home the previous night before killing her and himself with a self-inflicted gunshot after barricading in a nearby house.[ from prior, but query direct]
Police Response
Phoenix Police identified Torres after a traffic stop an hour earlier where he fled his vehicle, barricaded himself, and ignored negotiations until the gunshot was heard. A missing child report later linked the toddler found in Torres’s car to Felix, confirming the abduction motive amid their dispute.[query]
Family Impact
Felix leaves five young children, now facing the holidays without their mother, whom family describes as a “loving mother, a caring sister, and a friend to many” via GoFundMe. The children struggle to comprehend the loss as the investigation continues.[query]
Legal Context in Arizona
Arizona family courts prioritize the child’s best interests in custody, often granting supervised visitation or restrictions in disputes involving non-parents without legal paternity established via acknowledgment or court order. Violence escalates risks, potentially triggering emergency protective orders under A.R.S. § 25-403.03, though here it ended tragically before intervention.[ adapted to AZ context via pattern] Police investigations remain active for full charges or closure.
