Suspect arrested after stabbing two at Steiner Steakhouse, Investigation continues

By LYNETTE HAALAND, Four Points News

David Estrada

David Estrada

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes unit continues to investigate the double stabbing which occurred Friday morning at Steiner Ranch Steakhouse. David Estrada, 23, was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Estrada, who has a prior police record, is accused of stabbing two people at the restaurant located at 5424 Steiner Ranch Blvd. just before 1 a.m. on October 31.

The arrest affidavit states Estrada “pulled a knife out during the fight, proceeded to stab the other two subjects.”

The victims, Christopher De la Rosa, 25, and James Shelton, 24, were taken to St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center.

Shelton sustained a total of five stab wounds while De la Rosa had two stab wounds, the affidavit said.

On Friday morning, one was in surgery and the other was in stable condition. Both are expected to fully recover, said Lisa Block, spokesperson with TCSO.

Estrada was also injured and was taken to Lakeway Regional Medical Center. “The wounds were not extremely serious,” Block said. He had a self-inflicted cut on his hand, she said.

The arrest affidavit states Estrada was with a group of about 20 friends having dinner around 7:30 p.m. on Thursday. “After dinner, a few friends reconvened at the bar area of the restaurant to have some more drinks before leaving. While at the bar, witnesses stated that they heard a verbal confrontation begin between Shelton and Estrada. (It) progressed into a physical confrontation. Shelton and Estrada were on the floor of the bar area of the restaurant fighting when witnesses say they observed Estrada take a knife out of his front pocket and begin stabbing Shelton in the abdomen and arms while on top of him,” the affidavit said.

De la Rosa apparently tried to break up the fight and Estrada then stabbed him in the chest and abdomen.

Witnesses described the knife as silver in color with a three-inch blade. The affidavit goes on to state: “Witnesses observed Estrada attempting to clean the blood off his knife and folding it back up before deputies arrived.”

Patrons and staff at the steakhouse ran to the victims to “try and stop the bleeding and render first aid,” the report states.

Estrada was arrested and booked at 4:45 a.m. on Friday into Travis County Jail.

The affidavit states Estrada has prior arrests for Assault/Causes Bodily Injury/Family Member and Violation Bond/Protective Order.