Two teenage sisters walked into their East Las Vegas home on a Monday afternoon expecting a normal end to the school day. Instead, 17-year-old Laila and 14-year-old Lia found their parents lying on the floor with fatal gunshot wounds.
Police say officers rushed to the apartment near South Nellis Boulevard around 3:40 p.m. after receiving a frantic 911 call from one of the girls. Medics tried to perform life-saving care on 33-year-old Ashley Apodaca-Avila and her estranged husband, Joaquin Novelo, but both died right there at the scene.
Investigators quickly realized this was no random home invasion. Police believe Novelo forced his way into the house earlier in the afternoon while Ashley was away. He sat inside and waited for her to get back.
When Ashley walked through her front door, authorities say Novelo shot her. Moments later, he turned the gun on himself.
The couple had been married for years, but they recently split up and lived in different places. Ashley worked long hours as a talented pastry cook in local spots across town, including Makers & Finders and Take It Easy, building a steady life for her girls.
Friends and relatives remembered Ashley as an energetic mother who put her kids above everything else. Her whole life revolved around making sure Laila and Lia had every chance to succeed.
Now, family members are stepping up to look after the two teenagers. A relative took in the sisters while the entire neighborhood tries to make sense of what happened.
Las Vegas Metro Homicide detectives are still finalizing their investigation into the shooting. For Ashley’s loved ones, the focus remains on supporting two young girls forced to start over without their mom.
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