mation currently available exactly how and when Vivian was supposed to be transferred to her father after the court ruling.

Police have not said whether investigators had identified any threats or other warning signs before the shooting.

No charges have been announced.

 She was loved'

Vivan's Family Speaks Out:

Attorneys representing Vivian's father and family released a statement identifying the four-year-old and describing the family's grief.

 Our family is devastated,  the statement begins.  Vivian was four years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. 

The family says Vivian's father had relied on the court process as the custody case proceeded. According to the statement, a judge placed Vivian in her father's primary care and she was expected to come home to him that evening.

 She never did,  the family said.

The statement also asks the public to remember fathers who use the court system to seek custody and protection for their children.

The family thanked those who have reached out and asked for privacy while they grieve.

You can read the full statement below:

Our family is devastated. Vivian was four years old. She was loved without limit by her father, Aaron, and by everyone whose life she touched. There are no words for what has been taken from us.

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. On Tuesday, a judge placed Vivian in his primary care, and she was supposed to come home to him that evening. She never did.

We ask the public to remember that there are fathers everywhere who fight quietly, patiently, and within the law to protect their children. Their stories are rarely told, and they should be.

We are grateful to everyone who has reached out with kindness. We ask for privacy as we grieve.

What happens during custody cases?

How Custody Transfers Work:

The case has prompted questions about what happens after a judge changes which parent has primary custody of a child - particularly during the period between the court's ruling and the physical transfer of the child.

Therapist Chau Nguyen told FOX 26 that safety is generally a central consideration in custody cases, but the physical transfer of a child involves its own process.

 In most family custody cases, safety is paramount,  Nguyen said.  And there is a process to surrender possession and access, as they call it, of children. 

Nguyen cautioned that the public does not know all of the circumstances surrounding Vivian's case or what specific instructions were included in the court's order.

 We don't know, but we know in this case, the timing did not turn out well,  Nguyen said.

What they're saying:

Nguyen also cautioned against drawing a direct line between a custody dispute and extreme violence.

Custody disagreements can be emotionally difficult for everyone involved, she said, but people experiencing a crisis have other options.

 Life is painful. Custody disputes are emotional. They're difficult. They don't always turn out the way we want to,  Nguyen said.  But there is another way besides murder-suicide. 

Nguyen encouraged people who feel overwhelmed to seek support from family, friends or mental health professionals.

 Seek support. There is help out there,  she said.  Talk to somebody. Talk to a mental health counselor. Call the suicide hotline. It doesn't have to end this way. 

Nguyen also said family members should take concerning statements or signs of an emotional crisis seriously.

How To Get Help:

Anyone experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide   Crisis Lifeline.

The service provides free and confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If there is an immediate threat to a child or another person, call 911.