Nevada Man Admits to Killing Ex-Wife and Her New Husband in Grocery Store Shooting Fueled by Custody Dispute

A Nevada man has pleaded guilty to murdering his ex-wife and her new husband in a shocking shooting inside a Las Vegas grocery store, where the couple had been shopping for a birthday cake for their 12-year-old son.

Alejandro Estrada, 43, admitted to two counts of murder with a deadly weapon after fatally shooting Amanda Frias Rosas, 40, and her husband, Victor Frias Rosas, in May 2026. Prosecutors say the attack followed years of resentment connected to child custody and financial support disputes.

Estrada reportedly walked into the Smith’s grocery store where his former wife worked, opened fire in front of shoppers and left custody-related documents beside her body. He was later subdued by bystanders and arrested.

Under the reported plea agreement, Estrada faces a sentence of 28 years to life in prison for each murder count. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 25, according to Law&Crime.

A Grocery Store Visit Ends in Tragedy

The deadly shooting took place on May 12, 2026, at a Smith’s grocery store in the Silverado Ranch area of Las Vegas.

Amanda and Victor were inside the store when Estrada allegedly approached them and opened fire. According to police testimony and court records, he shot the couple multiple times before leaving custody documents beside Amanda’s body.

Witnesses described the gunman as unusually calm during the incident. Paula Milton, a shopper who spoke to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, recalled seeing Estrada moving through the store without showing much emotion.

“There was a volley of shots — like eight shots,” Milton told the newspaper, describing the terrifying moments when the gunfire erupted.

The attack unfolded in a public place filled with shoppers, turning an ordinary shopping trip into a scene of panic and violence.

Amanda and Victor were reportedly preparing to celebrate their son’s 12th birthday. A co-worker later told local media that the couple had a birthday cake in their shopping cart when they were killed.

The detail added another heartbreaking dimension to a case that left two families grieving and children facing the loss of their parents.

Custody Papers Left Beside the Victim

One of the most disturbing details to emerge from the investigation was the allegation that Estrada deliberately placed custody-related paperwork beside Amanda after shooting her.

During a grand jury hearing, a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police detective described Estrada’s alleged actions after the couple had fallen to the ground.

According to the detective’s testimony, Estrada retrieved a red folder containing documents from his backpack and tucked it into Amanda’s arm.

Investigators said the documents appeared connected to the custody dispute that had developed between Estrada and Amanda.

Prosecutors believe the act was intended to communicate his anger over the legal and financial conflict. The paperwork became an important part of the investigation into the circumstances and alleged motive behind the killings.

Estrada’s guilty plea means he has admitted to the two murder charges, while the details presented during the investigation help explain the background prosecutors described.

Years of Resentment Over Child Support

Authorities have linked the shooting to a bitter dispute involving custody arrangements and child support.

Estrada and Amanda separated in 2023. Amanda later married Victor in February 2025, according to marriage records cited in media reports.

The former couple shared legal custody of their children, and Estrada had reportedly been ordered to pay $342 per month in child support.

Court records cited by local CBS affiliate KLAS indicated that he owed more than $2,800 in unpaid support as of November 2025.

During a grand jury hearing, a former roommate reportedly testified that Estrada had grown increasingly angry over the financial consequences of the child support payments. The roommate said Estrada had been trying to purchase a condominium but became frustrated when the support obligation affected his loan arrangements and down payment.

Investigators also cited alleged social media posts in which Estrada expressed hatred and described having a “vendetta” against Amanda.

According to testimony reported by Law&Crime, detectives believed the resentment had developed over several years and eventually escalated into a plan to kill both Amanda and Victor.

The allegations reveal how a dispute over parenting and financial obligations became central to the prosecution’s account of the double homicide.

Bystanders Risk Their Lives to Stop the Gunman

The shooting could have continued to endanger others had several people not intervened.

After the gunfire, Estrada reportedly left the store and was confronted by bystanders. Witnesses said he had multiple weapons, including a handgun and a rifle carried in a backpack.

One shopper later described rushing toward Estrada when he saw the suspect reach for a gun. The witness said he grabbed the weapon and struggled to keep it from being pointed at himself or others.

Police arrived to find several people restraining the suspect after they had reportedly managed to take control of the gun.

A police official publicly praised the bystanders for their courage, noting that their intervention helped bring the dangerous situation to an end.

Estrada was arrested on May 12 and remained in custody as the criminal case proceeded.

The Victims’ Family Faces an Irreplaceable Loss

Amanda’s mother, Angela Mejia, spoke about the devastating impact of the killings after learning that Estrada had chosen to plead guilty rather than face a jury trial.

“He did not want to go before a jury,” Mejia told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “He chose this sentence. My grandchildren did not choose this.”

Her words reflected the consequences extending far beyond the courtroom. The children lost both their mother and stepfather in a single violent incident, while relatives were left to navigate grief and the aftermath of the crime.

Amanda had previously written publicly about the difficulties surrounding custody and the emotional impact such disputes can have on children. In one social media post, she warned that hatred toward an ex-partner should never outweigh love for a child.

Those earlier messages have taken on renewed significance following the killings, although they do not by themselves establish the full motive behind the attack.

Guilty Plea Brings Case Closer to Sentencing

Estrada pleaded guilty to two counts of murder with a deadly weapon in October 2026. Under the reported agreement, he is expected to receive 28 years to life in prison on each count, with the sentences to run consecutively.

That means the two sentences would be served one after the other rather than simultaneously. The final sentence will be formally imposed by the court at the scheduled November 25 hearing.

Prosecutors have described the agreement as an appropriate resolution because it avoids forcing the victims’ families to endure a lengthy trial. Estrada’s public defender also characterized the result as fair, according to local reporting.

The guilty plea marks a significant step toward resolving the criminal case, but it cannot undo the loss suffered by the victims’ children and relatives.

A dispute over custody and financial support has ended in the deaths of two people who were preparing to celebrate a child’s birthday. As sentencing approaches, the case stands as a devastating reminder of the lasting harm that can follow when personal conflict escalates into lethal violence.

Sources: Law&Crime