Ariana Nicole Estrada, a 20-year-old Hispanic woman from Amarillo, Texas, was a loving mother, cherished daughter, and caring friend. Described by her family as outgoing, strong-willed, and brave, she was an aspiring tattoo artist who loved her parents deeply. The center of her world was her young son, Kai, who was four years old at the time of her death.
In the early hours of May 4, 2025, Ariana was a passenger in a Dodge Durango with three other people when her ex-boyfriend, David
Allen Crowder, began chasing them in his vehicle. According to court records, the chase ended when Crowder crashed into a pole. The driver of the Durango then drove to the 2000 block of S. Mirror Street. As the passengers prepared to go check on Crowder, he arrived at their location in a pickup truck. He then fired numerous rounds from an AR-style rifle into the passenger side of the Durango where Ariana was sitting.
Around 1:30 a.m., Amarillo police officers on patrol heard the gunshots and responded to the scene, where they found multiple shell casings in the street. Witnesses told them that friends had rushed Ariana to a local hospital in a private vehicle. Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds. The other people in the car with her were not injured.
Investigators with the Amarillo Police Department’s Homicide Unit quickly identified David Allen Crowder, 21, as the suspect. Police located him at his father’s house, where his father told authorities that Crowder had called him, confessed to the shooting, and asked to be picked up. Officers found the murder weapon at the residence, where Crowder’s father had reportedly hidden it in tall grass in the front yard. Crowder was arrested without incident and booked into the Potter County Jail.
Crowder was charged with murder and four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with his bond set at $750,000. In June 2025, a Potter County grand jury indicted him for murder. As of May 2026, the case remained pending litigation. In the year following her death, Ariana's family has worked to raise awareness about domestic violence, starting a "Justice for Ariana" Facebook page to share resources and support for others in dangerous relationships.
