McLEAN, Va. -- The 5-year-old girl who was shot and killed by her mother late Sunday night in a McLean, Virginia apartment has been identified in a court hearing Tuesday morning.
A judge confirmed in court that the victim and the 33-year-old suspect, Veronica Youngblood, were mother and daughter.
The victim has been identified as Brooklynn Youngblood, according to WUSA9 Reporter Peggy Fox who was in the court during the hearing.
Late Sunday night, officers responded to the 1500 block of Lincoln Circle in McLean at Post Tyson’s Corner apartment complex for a shooting. When they arrived, they found two juveniles in the apartment.
One victim, who has since been identified as Brookland, was pronounced dead on the scene and the other girl was taken to the hospital and remains in critical condition.
According to the Virginia Medical Examiner's Office, the 5-year-old died after being shot in the head.
Youngblood had a 2016 protective order requested by her former spouse, Ronald Youngblood, according to court documents.
A judge ordered Veronica Youngblood to stay 500-feet away from her former spouse, his home, and their 4-year-old child.
Youngblood has been charged with 2nd degree murder. She is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.
Tuesday morning was Youngblood's first court appearance.
Court documents may reveal a possible motive for the crime. The relationship between Veronica and her ex-husband is marked by turmoil.
The marriage between Veronica Youngblood and Ronald Youngblood, 47, began with a 2009 Las Vegas wedding. The couple had Brooklynn in 2015. The couple were also raising Veronica's older daughter from a prior relationship.
Even though the marriage dissolved in 2015, the family all lived together, most recently at a home in Oakton. But, court documents describe a co-parenting and co-custody situation fraught with disputes.
Ronald Youngblood fought for sole custody of Brooklynn, arguing that it was "not in the best interests of Brooklynn" for Veronica to have custody of her. His attorney wrote that she "has proved to be an irresponsible parent who shirked her parental duties." He also worried she could easily return to her native Argentina with their child.
The latest dispute involved a planned move to Missouri for Ronald Youngblood's job with the United States Navy. The whole family was supposed to move, but Veronica did not want to go.
She petitioned the court in April and June to obtain primary custody of Brooklyn and stay in Virginia. She claimed that she had obtained full time employment and had moved out. She said the move to Missouri would be a "significant burden to her young daughter."
The move to move to Missouri was supposed to take place in the beginning of August.
In court on Tuesday, Veronica Youngblood told Judge August Steinhilber that she did not want counsel. She affirmed that she did not have funds to hire a lawyer.
Judge Steinhilber appointed the public defender's office to represent her because of the "serious nature" of the crime.
Her next hearing is scheduled for October 18 at 1:30 p.m.
