LAS VEGAS, NV – A routine shopping trip at a Smith’s grocery store erupted into a bloodbath on May 12, 2026, when a man allegedly gunned down his ex-girlfriend and her new husband in a targeted attack that left shell casings scattered from the produce aisle to aisle four. The double homicide, which unfolded just before 11:30 a. m.
, has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas community and raised urgent questions about the escalating violence tied to a bitter custody dispute.
Police responded to frantic 911 calls reporting shots fired inside the store, located in a bustling neighborhood. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as shoppers and employees scrambled for cover. Officers arrived to find the suspect already subdued by bystanders, who had tackled him to the ground and held him until authorities took him into custody.
The alleged gunman, identified as 43-year-old Alejandro Estrada, was reportedly beaten by the crowd, suffering a broken orbital rim and facial lacerations before being transported to a local hospital.
The victims were identified as Amanda Frias Rojas and her husband, Victor Frias Rojas, both employees at the grocery store. Investigators quickly uncovered a chilling connection: Estrada shared two children with Amanda, and the shooting was allegedly motivated by a custody battle over their offspring. Court records show that just two months prior, Estrada was ordered to pay $342 per month in child support, and by November 2025, he owed more than $2,800 in arrears.
The attack was methodical and premeditated, according to police. Surveillance footage from the store captured Estrada walking through the produce section before locating Amanda and Victor and opening fire. He fired multiple rounds, striking Victor three times in the upper left abdomen and left shoulder, and Amanda once.
The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Officers found a trail of shell casings leading from the produce aisle to aisle four, indicating a sustained and brutal assault.
But the violence did not begin at the grocery store. Investigators revealed that Estrada had allegedly visited the couple’s home nearly half an hour before the shooting. Police found a surveillance camera ripped from the front of the residence, a shattered rear sliding glass door, a cartridge case in the backyard patio, and a ransacked master bedroom.
This evidence suggests Estrada may have attempted to confront the couple at their home before tracking them to their workplace.
The suspect’s arrest was dramatic. Bystanders, including a man identified as Darius, disarmed Estrada after he fired approximately 10 to 15 rounds. The crowd pinned him down, and officers arrived to find him handcuffed and bleeding.
Body camera footage captured the tense moments, with one officer shouting, “Drop the weapons!” as civilians restrained the suspect. Estrada was later booked into the Clark County Jail, facing a slew of charges, including two counts of murder with use of a deadly weapon, eight counts of discharge of a firearm, and one count of burglary while in possession of a firearm.
The motive, police say, was rooted in a custody dispute that had been festering for months. Amanda and Victor had been married and worked together at the store, a detail that likely fueled Estrada’s rage. The couple’s children were not present during the shooting, but witnesses reported that Estrada was near a young girl at one point, causing panic among shoppers.
“He was right by my little ones, bro,” one witness exclaimed in the chaos, highlighting the terror that gripped the store.
The case has now been escalated to the Clark County Grand Jury, which indicted Estrada on more than a dozen felony charges by the end of June 2026. Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty, and the case has been sent to the Death Penalty Review Committee for evaluation. Estrada remains behind bars in the Clark County Jail, with a trial scheduled for July 2027.
The shooting has reignited debates about domestic violence and the failure of the legal system to protect victims. Amanda and Victor’s family members have expressed outrage, questioning why Estrada was not stopped earlier despite the child support arrears and prior custody disputes. “This was a tragedy that could have been prevented,” said a family spokesperson, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“He was a ticking time bomb, and the system failed them.”
The Las Vegas community is mourning the loss of two beloved employees. Smith’s grocery store has closed its doors temporarily, with a sign reading “We are heartbroken” posted at the entrance. Grief counselors have been deployed to support staff and customers who witnessed the violence.
“They were kind, hardworking people,” said a coworker who asked not to be named. “They didn’t deserve this.”
Police are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward, as they continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting. The investigation has revealed that Estrada had a history of domestic incidents, though details remain sealed. Authorities are also examining whether he had access to firearms legally, given his criminal record.
The attack has drawn national attention, with experts warning that custody disputes can escalate into lethal violence when left unchecked. “This is a classic case of a perpetrator using a gun to settle a personal score,” said Dr. Sarah Jenkins, a criminologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
“The system needs to do more to identify red flags and intervene before it’s too late.”
As the trial approaches, the community is bracing for a painful legal process. The prosecution is expected to present surveillance footage, witness testimony, and forensic evidence to prove premeditation. Estrada’s defense team has not commented publicly, but sources suggest they may argue that he acted in the heat of passion or was provoked.
The double murder has left a scar on Las Vegas, a city already grappling with high rates of violent crime. For Amanda and Victor’s families, the pain is immeasurable. “They were just starting their life together,” said a neighbor.
“Now they’re gone, and two children are left without a mother.”
The case continues to unfold, with new details emerging daily. The Las Vegas Metro Police Department has vowed to pursue justice, but the road ahead is long. For now, the community is left to mourn, while Estrada sits in a jail cell, awaiting his day in court.
The trial, set for July 2027, will determine whether he faces life in prison or the death penalty for a crime that has shattered so many lives.