In the early hours of October 30, 2022, a quiet neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado, was shattered by a deadly shooting that left four people dead and a community in mourning.
The suspect, Joseph Castorena, was no stranger to the victims—he was the ex-partner of the only survivor and had a history of domestic violence.
This true crime case highlights the devastating consequences of failing to address escalating domestic violence.
It also exposes the limitations of protective orders in preventing harm, particularly when abusers repeatedly violate court mandates and exploit legal loopholes.
Let's get into it
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| The victims |
Before the tragic events of October 30, 2022, Joseph Castorena had a well-documented history of domestic violence and erratic behavior, particularly involving his ex-girlfriend, Jessica Serrano.
The couple, who were never married, shared two young daughters and had been in a tumultuous relationship for several years.
Their relationship was marked by frequent breakups, short-lived reconciliations, and escalating violence.
In the weeks leading up to the shooting, tensions between Castorena and Jessica reached a boiling point.
On October 23, 2022, just one week before the massacre, Castorena confronted Jessica as she left work.
According to the local Police Department, Castorena forced Jessica to go to lunch with him and refused to let her leave his car.
During the encounter, he allegedly pointed a small black handgun at her, threatening to kill her or himself if she didn’t comply.
Jessica reported that Castorena also pulled on her shirt, causing her to fall out of the car.
When she attempted to drive away, he smashed her driver’s side window with a tire iron, leaving her with minor cuts from the shattered glass.
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| Jessica and her father, Jesus Serrano |
This incident led to a criminal complaint against Castorena and the issuance of a protective order barring him from contacting Jessica or possessing firearms.
However, the order did not prohibit all contact between the two, a loophole that would later prove fatal.
Jessica and her father, Jesus Serrano, had also filed separate protection orders against Castorena in the past, citing his violent tendencies and threats.
Additionally, Castorena had previously been arrested for felony child abuse, failure to appear in court, and violating court orders.
Despite these numerous crimes, Castorena continued to evade serious punishment, allowing his behavior to escalate unchecked.
The relationship between Castorena and Jessica was further complicated by their shared custody of two young daughters.
Just one day before the shooting, Child Protective Services (CPS) had removed the children from their care, citing concerns about the volatile environment.
This decision may have served as a triggering event for Castorena, who had a history of using intimidation and violence to control Jessica.
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| Maria Anita Serrano and her husband Kenneth Eugene Green Luque |
The Night of the Deadly Shooting
On October 30, 2022, just after 2 a.m., Jessica Serrano returned home to her residence on the 900 block of Geneva Street after attending a party with her family.
Upon entering her bedroom, she found her ex-boyfriend Joseph Castorena’s jacket, jeans, and car keys hidden in her closet.
Fearing for her safety, Jessica immediately called 911, reporting that Castorena might be hiding somewhere in the house.
While Jessica was on the phone with the dispatcher, gunshots erupted.
Castorena, armed with a stolen handgun, had been hiding and waiting for the family to return.
He ambushed them as they entered the home.
Jessica’s father, Jesus Serrano (51), was shot twice in a hallway and died at the scene.
Jessica’s twin sister, Maria Anita Serrano (22), and Maria’s husband, Kenneth Eugene Green Luque (20), were found dead in the basement.
Kenneth appeared to have been the first victim, shot at the foot of the basement stairs.
Maria was killed by two gunshot wounds.
A fourth victim, Rudolfo Salgado Perez (49), a family friend who had been renting an RV on the property, was shot and killed when he stepped outside during the chaos.
He then searched for Jessica and found her hiding in the bathroom, but by that point, he had run out of bullets.
Jessica, trapped in a bathroom with Castorena, managed to fight back during a physical struggle.
She threw him into the bathtub and fled the house, running into the backyard and then into the street.
Castorena chased her briefly but turned and fled in the opposite direction.
As Jessica ran for help, Sergeant Paul Davis of the Aurora Police Department arrived at the scene.
Jessica flagged him down, screaming that Castorena had shot her family, according to bodycam video from Beyond Evil.
Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of Jesus, Maria, Kenneth, and Rudolfo.
Two young children—Maria and Kenneth’s daughters, aged one year and three months—were found unharmed but traumatized in the house.
The night ended with Castorena fleeing the crime scene, leaving behind his car, wallet, and phone.
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| Joseph Castorena when he was trying to break in |
Investigation and Arrest
The Aurora Police Department quickly launched an extensive criminal investigation after the fatal shooting on October 30, 2022,
During the crime scene investigations, detectives recovered a stolen 9mm Kimber handgun, nine shell casings, and Castorena’s abandoned car and wallet.
Fingerprints on the gun matched Castorena’s, and ballistic analysis confirmed the casings were linked to the weapon.
Investigators quickly identified Castorena as the prime suspect.
Witnesses reported seeing him flee the scene barefoot, and his phone was found discarded in the backyard of the Serrano home.
A reverse 911 call was issued to alert residents in the area, and a massive manhunt began.
Police dogs, drones, and officers combed the neighborhood, but Castorena had already escaped the cordon.
Tips from the community led investigators to focus on Castorena’s family.
His younger brother, Juan Castorena, was arrested on November 1, 2022, and charged with accessory after the fact.
Juan admitted to driving Joseph away from the crime scene, providing him with shoes and cash, and helping him evade capture.
Castorena's trail eventually led authorities to Mexico, where he had family connections.
With assistance from the FBI, Mexican authorities, and Interpol, Castorena was tracked down in Aguascalientes.
On December 10, 2022, after two months on the run, Castorena was apprehended by Mexican police.
His distinctive lion tattoo and erratic behavior made him easy to identify.
According to criminal investigators, Castorena had tried to seek refuge with relatives in Mexico but was turned away, ultimately leading to his capture.
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| Joseph Castorena |
Legal Proceedings
After his arrest, Joseph Castorena was extradited to the United States and taken into custody by the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona before being transferred to Colorado to face charges.
He was charged with four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Jesus Serrano (51), Maria Anita Serrano (22), Kenneth Eugene Green Luque (20), and Rudolfo Salgado Perez (49), as well as one count of attempted murder related to the attack on Jessica Serrano.
The case went to trial in May 2024, where prosecutors presented overwhelming evidence, including fingerprint matches on the murder weapon, ballistic analysis linking the gun to the crime scene, and testimony from witnesses, including Jessica Serrano.
The defense attorneys argued that Castorena’s actions were driven by emotional distress, but the jury rejected this argument.
After deliberating, the jury found Castorena guilty on all counts, including sentence enhancers for the use of a deadly weapon, as reported by 9News
In September 2024, the judge sentenced Castorena to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 24 years for the attempted murder charge.
The trial also addressed Castorena’s prior offenses, including his history of domestic violence and violations of protective orders.
These factors were considered during sentencing, highlighting the systemic failures that allowed his behavior to escalate unchecked.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of closure to the victims’ families, though the scars of the tragedy remain.
Here is a video from Beyond Evil about the case, including body cam footage and a 911 call from that fateful night that captured the shooting.
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