Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on Apr. 14 that Adrian Aguilar has been sentenced to life in prison plus an additional 26 years for the murder of his girlfriend, Amira Crofton, in Tempe.
The case highlights a violent crime that resulted from jealousy and escalated into a fatal attack. The sentencing aims to bring justice for the victim and her family.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred in June 2023 when Aguilar was driving with Crofton around Tempe. After seeing a text message from another man on her phone, Aguilar accused Crofton of cheating and threatened her if she did not confess. Despite Crofton’s repeated denials, Aguilar shot her and continued driving around Tempe for approximately 45 minutes while repeatedly shooting her.
Police responded after a witness saw Aguilar standing outside his car near Broadway Road and 48th Street firing shots at the passenger seat before leaving the scene. Officers found Aguilar nearby with a gunshot wound; he claimed his car had been attacked but later confessed during interviews that he shot Crofton because he felt disrespected. He also admitted to shooting himself in the shoulder.
Crofton suffered eleven gunshot wounds as well as other injuries. During police interviews, it was revealed she was scared, crying, and pleaded to be taken home while being shot.
In February this year, a jury found Aguilar guilty of first-degree murder (a class one felony), kidnapping (a class two felony), and two counts of aggravated assault (class three felonies).
“This young woman placed her trust in the defendant, and he repaid that trust with brutal violence,” said County Attorney Rachel 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.”
The outcome reflects ongoing efforts by law enforcement officials to address violent crimes involving intimate partners.
