In a heart-wrenching case from San Antonio, Texas, an elderly Air Force veteran, Ramon Najera, was brutally mauled to death by two pit bulls after they escaped from their owners’ yard.
The tragic event occurred on February 24, 2023, and has resulted in lengthy prison sentences for the dogs’ owners, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schneider. Both were found criminally negligent for failing to secure the dogs, leading to the deadly attack that claimed Najera’s life and left his wife, Juanita, with severe injuries.
Ramon Najera, 81, and his wife Juanita, 74, were visiting friends in their neighborhood when the two pit bulls, named King and Snow, broke loose from their yard and charged at them. The dogs attacked Najera, latching onto him and dragging him down the street. First responders arrived at the scene to find Najera’s bloodied body being dragged by one of the dogs. The animals also attacked firefighters, who had to defend themselves with axes to stop the assault. Unfortunately, Najera died from the injuries sustained in the attack, while Juanita and two others were also injured.
The dogs’ owners, Moreno and Schneider, were sentenced on September 20, 2024. Moreno received an 18-year prison sentence, while Schneider was sentenced to 15 years for their failure to properly restrain the dogs, which led to the fatal attack. According to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office, the couple’s negligence in failing to provide adequate fencing and allowing the dogs to roam free resulted in the deadly incident. Both have also been permanently prohibited from owning or possessing dogs in the future.
District Attorney Joe Gonzales described the attack as “preventable” and emphasized that the sentences reflect the serious nature of the couple’s negligence. “The defendants’ failure to act responsibly and secure their pit bulls resulted in injuries and the loss of a life. I believe the defendants received adequate punishment and justice has been served for the Najera family,” Gonzales said in a public statement.
The mauling has had a profound impact on Juanita Najera, who now suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to the trauma of witnessing her husband’s death. Speaking in court, Juanita shared her grief and ongoing emotional struggles. “I would never have imagined I’d be calling myself a widow at this time in my life, and in this tragic way,” she said. “PTSD is now something I will have to deal with the rest of my life.”
The dog owners, who had a history of complaints about their pets’ aggressive behaviors, were breeding and training the animals, which were described as dangerous by their neighbors. Despite multiple warnings and incidents involving the dogs attacking others in the neighborhood, the couple failed to take action to properly secure the animals. Investigators found that the dogs had attacked other residents in the past, but the city had not intervened to seize the animals before the fatal mauling.
In March 2023, Juanita Najera filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Moreno and Schneider, accusing the couple of negligence and failing to secure and monitor their dogs. The lawsuit details how the couple knew their dogs were dangerous but did not take the necessary precautions to prevent them from escaping. The lawsuit is seeking over $1 million in damages, and legal experts believe Juanita has a strong case, though the couple may file for bankruptcy to shield their assets.
King and Snow, along with a third dog, were euthanized following the attack. The incident has sparked outrage in San Antonio, highlighting the need for stricter animal control laws in the city. In response, the San Antonio City Council has increased the budget for Animal Care Services, though advocates argue that more reforms are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future. The case has also reignited debates over the responsibilities of dog owners and the enforcement of dangerous dog regulations.