A 35-year-old woman in Houston, Texas, has shot and killed her four-year-old daughter before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, shortly after losing primary custody of the child in a family court ruling.

The woman, identified as Cibelle Savella, reportedly killed her daughter, Vivian, hours after a judge awarded primary custody to the child’s father, Aaron Savella.

According to reports, Houston police responded to a shooting at the family’s home in west Houston, where officers found Vivian dead from a gunshot wound.

Savella was also discovered with a gunshot wound and was taken to a hospital, where she later died.

The shooting occurred shortly after a custody hearing involving the child. The court had reportedly ruled in favour of Vivian’s father, with arrangements made for the child to be handed over to him later that day.

Houston Police Department Lieutenant Larry Crowson said the custody hearing had not gone in the mother’s favour.

“There was a custody hearing earlier today that didn’t go well for the mother,” Crowson said.

Savella reportedly returned home following the hearing before the shooting took place.

The child’s father and Savella had been involved in a prolonged custody dispute following their divorce.

Court orders had reportedly placed several restrictions on Savella, including supervised communication with Vivian and limitations on her participation in some of the child’s school activities. She was also required to meet certain financial obligations towards the child.

Authorities have not disclosed the reasons behind the restrictions.

The father’s attorney, Charlotte Rainwater, described the incident as unprecedented in her nearly three decades of practising family law.

“I’ve been practising family law for 28 years and have never experienced anything like this,” Rainwater said.

The family, through their lawyer, described Vivian as a deeply loved child and said her father had complied with the court’s directives throughout the custody dispute.

“Aaron did everything the law asks of a parent who is trying to protect his child. He trusted the courts. He followed every order. He waited for the process to work,” the family said.

Police are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.