An investigation into the motive behind the June 28 shooting deaths of two women at the Navajo County Governmental Complex in Holbrook has revealed what may have been a misunderstanding over the outcome of a hearing regarding custody of two children.

Salomon Diaz, 47, is the paternal grandfather of two young children who were at the center of the controversy. According to law enforcement, Diaz left the courts following a hearing before Superior Court Judge Robert Higgins. He reportedly went to his vehicle, where he retrieved a gun and returned to the entrance of the complex, then fired upon the children’s mother, Ashley Utley, 25, and Utley’s mother, Sherry Quintero-Davenport, 45, both of whom died at the scene. A third victim, Angela Chambers, 68, who was reportedly an aunt to the children, was injured. She was transported to an area hospital for treatment.

According to Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon, the children’s mother and father, Utley and Jessie Diaz, both lived in New Mexico, but the children have been residing with Salomon Diaz in Snowflake for a period of time. On June 27, the mother filed for a temporary custody order and appeared before Judge Robert Higgins in Superior Court the following day requesting to have the children brought back under her care.

“It’s my understanding that both parents were amiable on this matter,” stated Carlyon.

The hearing was late in the afternoon and at one point it was mentioned that the mother had already obtained a temporary order to have the children returned to her custody from the Gallup District Court. Before proceeding further, Judge Higgins attempted to contact the Gallup judge in order to ascertain who had jurisdiction in the matter.

New Mexico is on Daylight Saving Time, and thus one hour ahead of Arizona. When the call was made, the Gallup courts were already closed. Higgins made the determination to uphold the temporary order until the following day when the courts could be contacted.

“I think there was some sort of misunderstanding as to what the judge was stating and it led to this outcome,” stated Carlyon. “Under the interstate compact between the two states, the two judges are supposed to contact each other in order to determine jurisdiction based on how long the children have been in this state and the parents’ residency in Gallup.” He added that there was no other option available for Judge Higgins in this matter.

When the shooting began, the complex was placed on lockdown. The suspect was located about an hour later on the south end of the complex and was taken into custody without incident. He is being charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and two counts of second degree murder.