LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — New details of Tuesday’s shooting inside the Smith’s grocery store that left Amanda and Victor Frias Rosas dead after police say Amanda’s ex, Alejandro Estrada, who shared two children with Amanda, opened fire, killing her in a targeted attack.
A new arrest report details the steps the accused gunman, Estrada, took to find his victims.
The arrest report states Estrada initially visited the couple’s home and likely broke in when they weren’t there.
Investigators found the rear sliding glass door shattered and the master bedroom ransacked.
Police say he went to the Smith’s in the Silverado Ranch area, tracked the couple inside, and shot them multiple times.
Investigators say a backpack on him had multiple guns and ammunition.
We spoke to Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson about whether he is seeking the death penalty.
“Everything is on the table now. It’s early. This just occurred 28 hours ago. It is still under investigation. Many things are being looked into. The question of whether we file the death penalty notice or not will be a decision which will probably be made in the next one to two months,” said Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson.
Court records show Estrada and Amanda were in a child support dispute before the murders.
Police say Estrada told a roommate he thought he was going to jail for failure to pay.
He made arrangements to move out of his home and quit his job.
Documents reveal he was obligated to pay 342 dollars a month and owed more than 28-hundred as of November.
Amanda’s mother never suspected the case would escalate to this point.
He wasn’t even in their life anymore. He gave them up. He didn’t want them, but they did go to court. They were going to court yesterday because Amanda was going to try to get full custody of them. You know, he wasn’t paying anything. He wasn’t seeing them, “ said Anna Winn.
Now, a local clinical psychologist, Dr. Tanya Crabb, Owner of Soul Works Counseling, is weighing in on the emotional toll victims, witnesses, and family members of those involved may now be carrying following the tragedy.
“It’s a really rough place to be a small child to have to navigate adult storms; children should not be the casualty in adult battles,” Dr. Crabb said.
Court documents and Las Vegas Metro Police reports obtained by News 3 detail the lengthy custody battle involving Estrada and his ex-wife, Amanda, and her spouse, Victor Frias Rosas.
“This is not just a custody story; this is also a domestic violence story. When custody, money, fear, and control come together, the risk is a lot higher, and we have to name that clearly when violence is involved. Safety has to come first,” Dr. Crabb said.
While Metro Police’s investigation details Estrada’s troubles and fears he’d be arrested over failed child support payments he owed to his ex-wife.
Clinical Psychologist Dr. Tanya Crabb says the deadly dispute between the two has now left a lasting impact on both children, who are now left without parents.
“These children’s lives are forever changed by the things that have happened, and in essence, they have lost all of their parents simultaneously through this act of violence,” Dr. Crabb said.
As those children work to make sense of the situation and their loss, Dr. Crabb says there may be signs indicating trauma, but shares how loved ones may help those affected cope with the trauma.
“Their behavior will tell the story first, things like they might have trouble sleeping, they might have nightmares, physical complaints like stomach aches, other body complaints, it could be mood, they could be angry, they could be irritable,” “The message is you’re loved, this is not your fault, the adults are handling it,” said Dr. Crabb.
Dr. Crabb says it’s also important to seek help, saying in addition to the children affected in this tragedy, the same advice applies to extended family members and those who were in the store when the shooting occurred.
That is a trauma for them too. Don’t white knuckle it, don’t try to go at it alone if it is showing up for people who are around, as well, seek support to find someone to talk to about this.”
Dr. Crabb, while healing is not linear, she says it’s important to seek out professional help as well as recommends resources such as The Resiliency & Justice Center, which has offered free services for stores affected by the tragedy.
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