BROTHERS CHARGED IN 1998 COLD CASE
10th murder solved by the HCSO’s Cold Case Squad
Jesus Serna Saul Serna Austin Moore
HOUSTON – Investigators with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Cold Case Unit have filed capital murder charges against brothers Saul Serna and Jesus Serna in the 1998 fatal shooting of a young man during a home invasion in north Harris County.
Jesus Serna is at large. Saul Serna is serving a prison sentence for an unrelated matter.
A third suspect, Austin Moore, was charged in 2007 and is on bond awaiting trial. A fourth suspect, Christopher Ibarra, was killed during the incident.
On April 20, 1998, about 11:45 p.m., the four armed men forced their way into an apartment in the 2400 block of Bammelwood. Inside were three individuals. A shootout ensued, leaving three men wounded. Among them was Ibarra and apartment resident Ali Scott. They later died as a result of their injuries.
In July of this year, the HCSO’s Cold Case Unit reexamined the case and developed additional information. As a result, the Serna brothers were identified and charged on Nov. 15 for their role in the shootout.
This is the tenth case solved by the HCSO’s Cold Case Unit since it was reconstituted in 2009 by Sheriff Adrian Garcia.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Jesus Serna should contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Photos of all three suspects are attached. No photo of the victim is available.