Ashley Prince and Husband, Dennis Prince
(Photo : 8 News Now)
A bitter custody battle between Prince and ex-husband Dylan Houston prompted the deadly shooting carried out by Houston's father, Joe Houston II.

The Las Vegas woman gunned down alongside her husband in the middle of a custody meeting by a rival lawyer had feared for her safety prior to the proceeding, and even looked into hiring private security days before the shooting, according to a report.

Ashley Prince, 30, was shot and killed alongside her husband, Dennis Prince, 57, by her former father-in-law on Monday afternoon during a child custody deposition

"Do you have any private security you recommend?" she texted private investigator Hal De Becker, according to documents acquired by KLAS-TV.

In another text exchange, she wrote, "[I don't know] if Dylan will be there, but in case he is."

"Dylan has a ton of guns in that house."

She ultimately decided to cancel the extra security measure before the shooting, convinced he would not be present at Monday's deposition.

Ex-father-in-law Joe Houston II was at the Las Vegas law office representing his son, Dylan, in the custody battle with Dylan's ex-wife, Ashley when fatally shot the couple.

Dennis Prince was representing his wife that morning.

At the center of the deadly shooting are the two young children Dylan Houston and Ashley Price share together.

Dylan Houston, also an attorney, emailed Dennis Prince only a few days before, writing:

"You have no idea what's coming, do you? All your cards are on the table, and I haven't played one [laughing emoji]," according to documents.

He was seemingly referring to a surveillance report Prince had obtained, casting the father in a negative light.

Divorce records reveal claims made against Dylan Houston, confirming he tested positive for cocaine and alcohol while he had custody of the couple's children.

The record goes on to say he would frequently send abusive texts to his ex-wife.

Another report noted Dylan Houston's excessive drinking on March 29. The document highlighted that Houston had five drinks with three shots over a span of four hours.

Houston then proceeded to get behind the wheel of his car, swerving as he drove off.

Following the double murder, Clark County District Court Judge Bill Henderson awarded temporary custody to Ashley Prince's sister rather than Houston.

"[P]lacing the parties' minor children with Plaintiff would be detrimental to the children, and the award of custody to a nonparent is required to serve the children's best interests, based upon the recent acts of Plaintiff's father and Plaintiff," Henderson said.

The Princes' had recently welcomed a child together.