Ryan Michael Serna, a 22-year-old Hispanic man from Donna, Texas, was a beloved son and brother. Born in Weslaco, Texas, on November 22, 1999, he was part of a large, close-knit family and was cherished by his parents, numerous siblings, and many friends in his community.
In the early hours of October 2, 2022, an altercation broke out at the No Manches Wuey bar in downtown McAllen. Following the disturbance, just before 2 a.m., Ryan was shot in the 1600 block of Beaumont Street.
His girlfriend called the police, who arrived to find him with multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Paramedics rushed Ryan to McAllen Medical Center, where he was placed on life support. He fought for four days before succumbing to his injuries on October 6, 2022.
McAllen police investigators quickly determined the shooting was not random, describing it as a planned act of violence. Based on witness statements and surveillance video, authorities alleged that after the initial conflict at the bar, a group of individuals conspired to attack Ryan. According to police, three men—Joel Gonzalez Jr., Alejandro Gomez, and Avan Ruben Mendoza—left the area to get a firearm while other members of their party stayed behind to watch Ryan. The three then allegedly returned, waited for Ryan to leave the bar, and followed him to the location where he was shot.
A wide-ranging investigation led to the arrests of numerous individuals. Ultimately, six people were indicted on murder charges: Joel Gonzalez Jr., Alejandro Gomez, Avan Ruben Mendoza, Naila Reyes, Bryan Vasquez, and Humberto Ojeda Jr. Another man, Hugo Ivan Ojeda, was charged with failure to report a felony.
The legal proceedings concluded with convictions for three of the men primarily involved in the shooting. Joel Gonzalez Jr. pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Avan Ruben Mendoza also pleaded guilty to murder and received an identical 38-year prison sentence. Alejandro Gomez was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Hugo Ivan Ojeda pleaded guilty to his lesser charge and was placed on six months of probation. Citing a lack of evidence to establish the necessary elements for a successful prosecution, the murder charges against the remaining co-defendants were dropped. The final sentencing occurred in September 2026, bringing the case to a close.
