Las Vegas, Nevada — A Nevada man accused of carrying out a deadly shooting inside a Las Vegas grocery store allegedly left child custody documents beside his ex-wife’s body after killing her and her new husband, with prosecutors claiming the attack was fueled by a years-long grudge over custody and child support.
The allegations emerged during grand jury proceedings involving Alejandro Estrada, who is charged in the deaths of Amanda Frias Rosas and her husband, Victor Frias Rosas, following the May 12 shooting at a Smith’s grocery store in the Silverado Ranch neighborhood.
Prosecutors Say Attack Was Planned in Advance
According to testimony presented to the grand jury, investigators believe Estrada deliberately brought court documents related to his custody dispute and placed them beside Amanda Frias Rosas after the shooting.
A Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detective testified that after both victims fell to the ground, the suspect allegedly retrieved a red folder from his backpack and positioned it next to his former wife’s body.
“As they were on the ground, he said he dropped his backpack to retrieve that red folder of documents, and then he took that and then he tucked that into Amanda’s arm,” the detective testified, according to court transcripts.
Investigators also alleged the suspect admitted he initially shot both victims multiple times during the attack.
Child Custody and Support Dispute Allegedly Fueled Grudge
According to prosecutors, the shooting followed a lengthy dispute involving child custody and unpaid child support.
A former roommate testified that Estrada frequently expressed anger toward his ex-wife, allegedly blaming child support obligations for financial setbacks, including the loss of a condominium purchase.
The roommate also claimed Estrada believed he could face legal consequences because of unpaid child support and had spoken about upcoming court proceedings before the shooting.
During grand jury testimony, a detective alleged that Estrada believed his actions were somehow justified because of ongoing legal disputes with his former spouse.
Witnesses Describe Calm Demeanor During Shooting
Several witnesses described the suspect as unusually calm before and after the shooting.
One shopper told local media there was “no expression” on the suspect’s face as gunfire erupted inside the grocery store.
Another witness who helped stop the suspect testified that he wrestled with Estrada outside the store after the suspect allegedly reached for his handgun again.
According to testimony, several bystanders worked together to disarm and restrain the suspect until police officers arrived.
Law enforcement officials later praised those civilians for their courage in preventing additional violence.
Victims Were Shopping for Son’s Birthday
Authorities said Amanda Frias Rosas and Victor Frias Rosas had been shopping shortly before the attack.
According to one of Amanda’s coworkers, the couple had a birthday cake in their shopping cart as they prepared to celebrate the birthday of Amanda and Estrada’s 12-year-old son.
The emotional detail has become one of the most heartbreaking aspects of the case.
Social media posts shared by Amanda before her death also reflected her ongoing frustrations with custody disputes.
“The hate you have for your ex should never be more than the love you have for your child,” she wrote in one post.
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In another post months later, she criticized parents who use children as “pawns” to pursue personal vendettas.
Multiple Charges Filed as Criminal Case Moves Forward
According to prosecutors, Amanda and Estrada shared joint legal custody of their child, while court records reportedly showed Estrada had accumulated more than $2,800 in unpaid child support after being ordered to pay $342 per month.
Estrada now faces two counts of open murder, eight counts of discharging a firearm, one count of burglary while in possession of a firearm or deadly weapon, and one count of aggravated stalking with use of a deadly weapon.
The allegations outlined during the grand jury proceedings represent the prosecution’s case. Estrada has been formally charged, but the charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 30.
What are your thoughts on this tragic case? How should ongoing custody disputes be handled to better protect families and prevent violence? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.