Joseph Banales dies in fatal Selma shooting
Joseph Banales dies in fatal Selma shooting
Fatal Selma shooting death of Joseph Banales – Obituary.
Selma police have arrested a suspect linked to the murder of University of the Incarnate Word nursing student Joseph Banales. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jacob Daniel Serna, was initially questioned as a witness alongside his then-wife, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by KSAT.
Banales was discovered deceased after crashing his car on Interstate 35 in Selma, near the Forum, around 11:45 p.m. on April 15, 2023. His family suspects he fell victim to a road rage incident. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded that he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
According to the arrest warrant, witnesses stated that prior to the crash, Banales attempted to merge into another lane and nearly collided with another vehicle. This vehicle was described as a dark blue or black sports car with a loud exhaust. The car reportedly slowed next to Banales’ vehicle before speeding away north on I-35.
At the time of the incident, Banales was on a call with his girlfriend, who also heard the loud exhaust and the crash. An autopsy later revealed a bullet was recovered, identified as from a .38 caliber firearm.
The investigation spanned over a year, involving multiple witness interviews. Investigators traced Serna and his wife to a 2018 blue Ford Mustang seen near the scene. Initially, Serna’s wife claimed to have observed the sports car alongside Banales’ vehicle. She suggested they check on him after the crash.
When questioned by police, Serna initially claimed he saw nothing, asserting that his wife had witnessed everything. The investigation also included search warrants for cell tower data and license plate records, which led them back to Serna’s Mustang.
On July 23, 2024, Texas Rangers and Selma officers interviewed Serna’s wife again. She stated they were returning home from a movie when they encountered the sports car near the crash site. She claimed Serna attempted to accelerate to get a better look at the car but couldn’t keep up before the crash occurred.
Three days later, when questioned again, Serna’s account changed to match his wife’s. He gave vague responses, omitting details his wife later confirmed. During an interview, Serna mentioned owning a Heckler and Koch 9mm pistol that he had pawned.
Investigators tracked the firearm and, on August 14, 2024, determined it shared characteristics with the bullet recovered from Banales. A new interview on September 19 revealed Serna’s ex-wife described a more troubling incident: Serna allegedly became enraged, retrieved the gun, and fired at Banales’ vehicle, claiming it accidentally discharged.
Serna was arrested for murder on Thursday without incident following the issuance of an arrest warrant. The affidavit does not clarify whether his ex-wife will face any charges. He was booked into the Bexar County Jail, and the case will proceed to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.
A family spokesperson expressed their distress that the suspect had pretended to be a witness. This is an ongoing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
Joseph Banales dies in fatal Selma shooting Fatal Selma shooting death of Joseph Banales – Obituary. Selma police have arrested a suspect linked to the murder of University of the Incarnate Word nursing student Joseph Banales. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jacob Daniel Serna, was initially questioned as a witness alongside his then-wife, according to…
Joseph Banales dies in fatal Selma shooting Fatal Selma shooting death of Joseph Banales – Obituary. Selma police have arrested a suspect linked to the murder of University of the Incarnate Word nursing student Joseph Banales. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Jacob Daniel Serna, was initially questioned as a witness alongside his then-wife, according to…