On September 16, 2023, 34-year-old Amber Nichole Ashlaw was tragically shot and killed in Lake Medina Shores, Bandera County, Texas. Witnesses identified her boyfriend, Andrew Harrison Lester, as the assailant. Following the shooting, Lester fled the scene on a motorcycle, prompting a pursuit by Bandera County deputies.
The chase extended into Bexar County, culminating at a Walmart located on Bandera Road in San Antonio.
Upon arrival, Lester entered the store and discharged his firearm, causing panic among shoppers. Law enforcement officers engaged with Lester, resulting in an exchange of gunfire during which Lester sustained a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. He was subsequently apprehended and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Authorities charged Lester with first-degree murder in connection with Ashlaw's death. Reports indicate that Lester had a prior history of domestic violence; in December 2021, he was arrested in Duval County, Florida, for strangling and threatening an intimate partner with a firearm.
Amber Ashlaw is remembered as a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend. Born on June 28, 1989, in Raleigh, North Carolina, she was 34 years old at the time of her passing. She is survived by her three children, who are now in the custody of Child Protective Services.
The Texas Rangers have taken the lead in the ongoing investigation into this tragic incident. The community continues to mourn the loss of Amber Ashlaw, whose life was abruptly ended by an act of domestic violence.
