Nancy Ayala, Samuel Tovar’s girlfriend, was shot outside their Mesquite, Texas residence

A violent domestic altercation has left a mother of four critically injured and her partner on the run in Mesquite, Texas. The town is in shock. After an argument at their shared flat, Samuel Tovar, 25, is accused of shooting his girlfriend Nancy Ayala early on Sunday morning, about three in the morning. Three of Ayala’s children witnessed the horrible incident, which added anguish to an already dire circumstance.

After being in a relationship for a number of years and having a child together, Tovar and Ayala got into a domestic argument that started the sad chain of events. As their disagreement got more heated, Tovar is accused of pulling Ayala outside their apartment’s front door before shooting her. Tovar left the scene after the gunshot, leaving Ayala critically hurt and in critical condition.

The disturbance was apparently heard by the neighbors, but Tovar got away before the police showed up. The basis of the couple’s disagreement has not been made public, but the act’s severity stunned the neighborhood and made the search for Tovar more urgent.

Nancy Ayala, who was taken to the hospital right after, is still in severe condition. Family members claim that Ayala has had numerous surgeries, including the removal of portions of her liver and lung. The biggest worry, though, is that Ayala might have suffered brain damage because her heart stopped for a few minutes before she was given CPR.

Family members have voiced their sorrow and rage at the circumstances, especially Ayala’s cousin Kimberly Salas-Hernandez. Salas-Hernandez asked for assistance in finding Tovar on social media while describing the horrific facts of the incident. She underlined how crucial it is to apprehend Tovar in order to bring justice to the children who witnessed the crime as well as to shield them from future trauma.

Salas-Hernandez emphasized the seriousness of Ayala’s condition and the emotional toll it has taken on the family, saying, “If they were to see the way she was right now, lifeless, literally lifeless, not moving, all the things that are wrong, literally declining, I feel like they would understand why we need him to get caught.”

Tovar is the target of a comprehensive manhunt that the Mesquite Police Department has started, and they are asking anyone with information about his location to come forward. Authorities are cautioning members of the public not to approach Tovar if they see him because he is thought to be armed and dangerous. In an effort to locate Tovar, the agency has also made his photo public and is collaborating with regional and state organizations.