A man initially interviewed as a witness at the scene of a murder has now been arrested over a year later in the apparent road rage slaying, authorities in Texas announced.
Jacob Daniel Serna, 29, was arrested on Thursday for the murder of Joseph Banales, according to police in Selma, located about 20 miles outside of San Antonio.
The case began on April 15, 2023, when Selma police said they responded to a single-car crash and found Banales shot in the head and slumped over his steering wheel.
Banales, a nursing student and Army ROTC member at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, was declared dead at the scene, police said.
Witnesses said Banales tried to merge into another lane and almost hit a dark blue or black sports car with a loud exhaust system, according to the probable cause affidavit. The sports car slowed down, then spend up along the driver’s side of Banales’ car, witnesses said. Then Banales’ car swerved into another lane and crashed into the center median, and the sports car fled, according to the probable cause affidavit.
Banales was on the phone with his girlfriend at the time; she told police she heard what sounded like a loud exhaust system driving by quickly, then a crash, the document said.
Serna and his wife were at the scene when officers arrived, police said. Officer dashboard camera captured Serna standing over Banales’ body, the probable cause affidavit said.
Serna — who drove a blue Ford Mustang sports car — and his wife were interviewed several times, and their stories changed over time, according to police.
In this photo posted to the FaceBook account of the Selma Police Department, one of their vehicles is shown.
Selma Police Department/FaceBook
Initially, Serna’s wife told police she saw a blue sports car — similar to the color of their car — in the lane next to Banales, the probable cause affidavit said. Serna told police he didn’t see anything and his wife saw the crash, according to the probable cause affidavit.
This July, police interviewed Serna’s wife again. The Sernas are now separated, according to the probable cause affidavit, and she said her husband had sped up to get a better look at the potential suspect’s car, but the suspect’s car was driving too fast, and that’s when the crash happened, the document said.
On Thursday, police interviewed Serna’s wife again. She admitted her husband shot the victim after her husband “became angry that Banales had nearly changed lanes into his blue Mustang,” police said in a statement on Friday.
She said her husband pulled his pistol out of the glove box, loaded the weapon and fired, according to the probable cause affidavit.
She said she made her husband turn around and drive back to the scene, according to the probable cause affidavit.
During the investigation, police zeroed-in on cellphone records to help determine “who could have been driving a blue sports car at the crime scene,” police said in a statement.
The probe, which included searching license plate reader databases, “revealed only one vehicle matching the description of a blue sports car with loud exhaust” — Serna’s car, police said.
“Google Geo-Fence records show Serna’s Google activity pinging in the area at the same time investigators believe the shooting happened,” police added.
Serna has been booked into the Bexar County Jail, police said.
A recent road rage incident in Texas has taken a deadly turn, with an arrest being made in connection to the murder of a man involved in the altercation. The incident, which occurred on a busy highway in the Lone Star State, has shocked the community and raised questions about the dangers of road rage.
The incident began when two drivers became involved in a heated argument while driving on the highway. According to witnesses, the argument quickly escalated into a physical altercation, with one of the drivers allegedly pulling out a gun and firing at the other driver. The victim, a 35-year-old man, was struck by the bullet and pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, police launched an investigation into the incident and were able to identify a suspect in the case. The suspect, a 28-year-old man, was arrested and charged with murder in connection to the shooting. Authorities have not released the name of the suspect or any further details about the case.
One of the key pieces of evidence in the case is the alleged witness to the shooting. According to reports, a driver who was passing by at the time of the incident saw the shooting take place and was able to provide crucial information to police. The witness’s account of the events helped authorities piece together what happened and ultimately led to the arrest of the suspect.
Road rage incidents are unfortunately not uncommon in Texas, as well as other parts of the country. These incidents can quickly escalate into violence and have serious consequences, as seen in this case. It serves as a reminder of the importance of keeping calm and avoiding confrontations while driving.
The arrest made in connection to this murder case is a step towards justice for the victim and their family. It also sends a message that acts of violence, especially those stemming from road rage, will not be tolerated. Authorities are urging anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have any information to come forward and assist in the investigation.
As the case continues to unfold, it serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of road rage and the importance of staying calm and collected while behind the wheel. Hopefully, this tragic incident will serve as a wake-up call for drivers to practice patience and restraint on the road to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
