Texas Man Sentenced to 30 Years for Killing Neighbor Over Noise
A Texas man who fatally shot his upstairs neighbor during a dispute over noise has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office announced on Friday that 56-year-old David Grejtak was convicted of murdering 44-year-old Lydia Morales in 2023.
The incident occurred on the night of September 12, 2023, at an apartment complex in San Antonio. Morales had invited family members over to her home, where they were drinking and playing music. According to testimony, the gathering grew loud, prompting a reaction from Grejtak, who lived in the unit directly beneath her.
During the evening, the family heard a noise coming from Grejtak’s apartment, signaling his frustration with the disturbance. Some guests began leaving, while others remained inside the apartment. At one point, Morales’ daughter’s boyfriend waited outside Grejtak’s door, reportedly making a “gesture” toward the peephole while waiting for his girlfriend.
Grejtak then emerged from his apartment armed with a gun. A heated argument followed between him and the boyfriend. During the altercation, Grejtak fell to the ground. As Morales and her daughter exited their apartment, she noticed the dispute unfolding and stepped between her family members and the armed man.
Prosecutors said Morales barely had time to react before Grejtak pulled the trigger. “All she can say is ‘what’s going on’ before the defendant shoots her,” a prosecutor told jurors, noting she was struck in the chest.
Assistant District Attorney Melissa Rust described how quickly the confrontation turned deadly: “Mr. Grejtak had had enough of Ms. Morales not doing what he wanted her to do, which was be quiet. The video evidence is so clear that we’re talking about seconds from her coming down those stairs to being shot.”
Grejtak claimed he acted in self-defense, alleging he believed Morales intended to stab him. However, jurors rejected this claim after reviewing evidence from the scene.
The case initially went to trial in May 2024 but ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a unanimous decision. A second trial began in July, where a new jury found Grejtak guilty of murder, ruling that the evidence did not support his claim of justification.
On Friday, the court sentenced him to 30 years in prison.
In a statement following the sentencing, Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales emphasized the pursuit of justice for Morales’ family: “Though today’s sentencing is a painful reminder of an act of senseless violence, it proves that we will never waver in our fight for justice. I would like to thank the jury for their diligent efforts in securing this conviction, and our team for their dedication in achieving a just decision that can bring some measure of closure to Lydia’s loved ones.”
The tragedy has highlighted the deadly consequences that can arise from disputes between neighbors, leaving Morales’ family to grieve the loss of a woman described as loving and protective of those around her.
