Man sentenced to life for fatally shooting teen girlfriend in car in Tempe

PHOENIX — A man who drove around Tempe while fatally shooting his girlfriend in 2023 has been sentenced to life in prison, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO).

Adrian Aguilar has been given life in prison and 26 additional years for the murder of his 19-year-old girlfriend, Amria Crofton.

In June of 2023, Aguilar was driving around Tempe with Crofton when he allegedly saw a text message on her phone from another man. Officials said Aguilar demanded Crofton tell him if she was cheating on him and threatened to shoot her if she wouldn’t tell him the truth.

MCAO said that after Crofton “repeatedly denied having a relationship with someone else”, Aguilar shot her.

Over the next 45 minutes, Aguilar drove around Tempe repeatedly shooting Crofton, MCAO said.

Police responded to a call near Broadway Road and I-10 after a witness saw Aguilar outside his car firing multiple shots at Crofton before walking away.

Upon arrival, Aguilar was found near the crime scene with a gunshot wound, claiming his car had been shot up, MCAO said.

Officials said Aguilar’s story had multiple inconsistencies and after additional interviews, he confessed to shooting Crofton because he thought she disrespected him. Aguilar reportedly admitted to shooting himself in the shoulder.

Crofton had 11 gunshot wounds to the head, neck and torso, as well as injuries to her face, head and hands, MCAO said.

During the police interview, Aguilar said that Crofton was scared, crying and asked to be taken home as he shot her.

A jury found Aguilar guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping and two counts of aggravated assault in February.

“This young woman placed her trust in the defendant, and he repaid that trust with brutal violence,” said County Attorney Mitchell. “His actions were callous, calculated, and rooted in jealousy. Thanks to the dedicated work of prosecutors Shaylee Beasley and Katie Staab, he has been held accountable and will spend his life in prison.”

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