A Texas teen, Adiah Roberson, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for murdering a Sonic Drive-In manager during a 2024 dispute over suspected counterfeit money. The case highlights tragic consequences from a brief confrontation that escalated fatally.
Case Details
Adiah Roberson, 17 at the time, shot and killed 33-year-old Daniel Shrewsbury on July 7, 2024, at a Sonic on Babcock Road in San Antonio, Texas. She pleaded no contest to murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon on January 9, receiving the maximum 40-year term (plus 20 years concurrently) from Judge Benjamin Robertson, who imposed it reluctantly.
Incident Background
Employees suspected Roberson used fake money to pay for food, prompting Shrewsbury to follow her car outside and photograph its license plate for police. Roberson then exited the vehicle and fatally shot him; he stumbled back inside the restaurant before collapsing.
Arrests and Proceedings
Roberson evaded capture for months, joining Texas’s Top 10 Most Wanted list before her October 2024 arrest in Dallas. Joshua Joseph, the alleged driver, was arrested in August 2024 but had his murder charge dropped.​
Sentencing Hearing
Shrewsbury’s mother, Peggy Cofield, opposed the plea deal, sharing her grief over losing her son. Manager Carlos Encino testified about Shrewsbury’s final moments and character, while Roberson’s family sought mercy, calling her talented but mistaken.
