April Marie Flores was working as a caregiver when authorities say she was fatally attacked at a Northeast El Paso apartment complex.
EL PASO, TX — The family of 36-year-old April Marie Flores is mourning the mother of eight after she was fatally stabbed while working as a caregiver at a Northeast El Paso apartment complex, as a woman accused in her death remains in custody.
Flores died after the Aug. 25 attack at the Patriot Palms Apartments on Sean Haggerty Drive. Police arrested 35-year-old Shaloni Mariah Wallace, whose mother Flores had recently begun caring for. Wallace has been charged with murder. Court records and police accounts cited in local reports have not established a motive for the attack.
Flores’ relatives described her as a devoted mother, daughter and older sister who enjoyed being with her children and talking with family members. Her sister, Ashley Flores, told KTSM that Flores was known for laughing and joking and could carry on conversations for hours. She said Flores had a close relationship with all eight of her children and called her “a great mom.”
The killing has left relatives trying to manage their own grief while helping Flores’ children understand the loss of their mother. Ashley Flores said the family was deeply emotional and focused on supporting the children through what she described as an especially difficult period. The family also established an online fundraiser to help with funeral costs and expenses for Flores’ younger children.
Police were called to the apartment complex shortly after 11 a.m. Aug. 25. Officers found Flores on a sidewalk between apartment buildings with stab wounds and provided aid before she was taken to a hospital, according to police and court documents described by local news outlets. She later died from her injuries.
Investigators said Flores had been working for about two weeks as a caregiver for Wallace’s mother. Wallace had previously been her mother’s caregiver, according to an affidavit, but the mother told investigators she had ended that arrangement. The mother said Flores arrived that morning before Wallace came to the apartment later. She also told investigators the two women did not know each other and initially appeared to have no problem with one another.
According to the affidavit, Wallace’s mother told police that Wallace suddenly began attacking Flores for an unknown reason. The mother said she saw Wallace hitting Flores but did not see whether her daughter had a knife during the confrontation. Authorities have not publicly identified what prompted the encounter or announced evidence of a previous dispute between Wallace and Flores.
A maintenance worker told investigators he heard someone calling for help and then saw Flores moving toward him while injured. The worker went to the apartment office and asked that 911 be called. He later reported seeing Wallace carrying what appeared to be a large knife, according to the court documents. Other witnesses who tried to help Flores told investigators that Flores identified Wallace as the person who had stabbed her.
Police said surveillance video from the apartment complex also showed Wallace near the area where Flores was found while carrying an object investigators said appeared consistent with a knife. Officers followed evidence through the complex to Wallace’s apartment. According to the affidavit, she opened the door when police arrived but quickly closed it after seeing officers. Police then entered and took her into custody.
Investigators later noted what appeared to be blood on Wallace’s shirt, according to the affidavit. Wallace told investigators that she had gone to her mother’s apartment that day, but the court filing did not provide an explanation for why she was there. The affidavit did not identify a suspected motive, and police have continued to describe the circumstances leading to the alleged attack as under investigation.
Wallace was booked into the El Paso County Jail after her arrest. Local court records cited Friday showed her being held without bond and indicated that a bond hearing scheduled for Aug. 27 had been canceled. No attorney was listed for Wallace in the court records reviewed by local media at that time. The criminal charge remains an allegation, and Wallace has not been convicted in connection with Flores’ death.
As the investigation and court case continue, Flores’ family is concentrating on her children and funeral arrangements. Relatives said they want her remembered for the role she played in their lives rather than for the violence surrounding her death. “Everybody is really emotional,” her sister said as the family began navigating the days after the killing.
Author note: Last updated August 29, 2026.