Law enforcement agencies across the Amarillo area continue to make progress in several high-profile investigations while prosecutors pursue serious criminal cases in local courts. Here's a look at some of the latest developments.
APD arrests suspect in fatal July 12 Lamborghini crash
Amarillo police have arrested Justin Shepherd, 43, in connection with a July 12 crash on South Georgia Street that left his passenger, Eric Gilliam, dead. Shepherd was booked into the Potter County Jail on Wednesday on a charge of collision involving death after investigators say he fled the scene. Police allege Shepherd ran a red light before crashing into multiple vehicles and a parked truck. Witnesses reported seeing him run away, and investigators later linked him to the Lamborghini through vehicle registration, a recovered cellphone, and a photo lineup. The investigation remains ongoing.
Repeat DWI offender sentenced to life in prison
A Randall County jury sentenced Raymundo Ayala to life in prison after convicting him of driving while intoxicated for at least the third time. Prosecutors said Ayala's blood alcohol concentration measured .213 following an August 2025 traffic stop, and jurors heard evidence of two prior DWI convictions during the trial. During sentencing, jurors learned Ayala had 11 prior DWI convictions and had previously served prison time for six of them, qualifying him as a habitual offender. Ayala testified he had been "unlucky," but the jury imposed a life sentence. District Attorney Robert Love said the punishment reflects the danger posed by repeat drunk drivers.
APD to provide update in 1997 cold case
The Amarillo Police Department will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Thursday to provide an update on the 1997 murder investigation of Gloria Covington. Covington was found stabbed to death on Aug. 5, 1997, near the North Branch YMCA, now known as the Warford Activity Center. The case remains one of dozens under review by the department's Cold Case Unit, which was established in 2022. Investigators have continued using DNA testing and other modern forensic tools to revisit unsolved cases from the 1980s and 1990s.
Investigators allege Amarillo man distributed $1.2 million in meth
Authorities say Mason Allan McCarty distributed an estimated $1.2 million worth of methamphetamine over a five- to six-month period before his arrest in June. Investigators executed a search warrant at a Canyon Drive motel on June 30, where they reportedly found suspected methamphetamine and two pistols. Court documents state McCarty later admitted selling about four ounces of meth per day for several months. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm. Authorities say McCarty has multiple prior prison sentences and was most recently released around 2020 or 2021.
