A 19-year-old Lincoln man has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and second-degree assault for a shooting that left his close friend and roommate dead.
Zachariah Serna had been set for arraignment Wednesday but filed the plea and written waiver of appearance on the charges instead.Â
Gavin Hall, a 20-year-old prison guard, was killed in the shooting early July 4.
Serna, who is out of jail on $50,000 bond, hasn't yet been given a trial date.Â
On July 4, police arrested him after responding to a 911 call and finding Hall dead of a single gunshot wound just after 12:30 a.m., at a home the men rented with two others at 2701 S. 40th St.
Police said that at a small gathering at the home, some participants apparently "were playing around and a firearm was involved."
People are also reading…
By Nebraska law, a person commits manslaughter by killing someone without malice upon a sudden quarrel or causing a death unintentionally while committing an unlawful act, for example firing a firearm within Lincoln city limits.
In an online fundraiser in July, Hall's family called it a tragic accident.
The two men went to Norris High School together, with Hall graduating in May 2018 and Serna a year later.
ODD CRIMES FROM 2020:
Five of the oddest crime stories we wrote about in 2020
Five odd crime stories: Fight over dad's ashes
A fight over ashes leading up to an explosion was definitely a new one for Lincoln.
Five odd crime stories: Dropping into the prison
People try to get contraband into prison in all kinds of ways, but via drone was a first here.
Five odd crime stories: Profiting off teen daughter
A sad one and hard to imagine, a dad accused of selling nude videos of his teen daughter.
Five odd crime stories: Need bond money
A bad idea for multiple reasons.
Five odd crime stories: Former weatherman's threat
So much happening in this one. Just bizarre.