John Serna, a 66-year-old male, was shot and killed on September 12, 2021, in the rural community of Mora, New Mexico, following a long and contentious history with his neighbor. The man responsible for the shooting, 70-year-old David Griego, claimed he acted in self-defense during an altercation, a violent culmination of over a decade of disputes.
The feud between the two men was deeply rooted in disagreements over land and had previously resulted in legal action and physical violence.
Court records indicate a history of conflict, including a 2016 incident where Serna was charged with battery for striking Griego. This history of animosity provides a complex backdrop to the fatal encounter. On the morning of the shooting, Griego called 911 to report that he had shot Serna, alleging that Serna had been threatening him.
In the months that followed, the investigation into Serna's death progressed while his family grew concerned about the pace and impartiality of the process. They publicly voiced fears that Griego was receiving preferential treatment due to his familial relationships with two local judges and urged the New Mexico Attorney General's Office to take over the case. The district attorney at the time assured the public that the investigation was ongoing and that no favoritism would be shown.
Four months after the incident, in January 2022, David Griego was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. He was released on a $50,000 bond, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for March 2022. While the initial arrest and charging brought a sense of progress for those seeking justice for Serna, the subsequent legal proceedings and the ultimate resolution of the case against Griego have not been detailed in available online sources. The final outcome of the charges remains unclear.
