Gregory Lynn Battee Jr., a 21-year-old male from Amarillo, Texas, tragically died on March 30, 2017, from a gunshot wound to the upper body inside his north Amarillo home. He was discovered by police officers around 2:15 a.m. after responding to a call at his residence on 900 N. Hayden St. Battee was remembered by neighbors as a "cool, young guy" and a father of two.
The investigation into his death revealed that Battee was killed during an aggravated robbery.
Two men, Samuel Eugene Wilson and Charles Lynn Pruitt, were indicted on murder charges by a Potter County Grand Jury in May 2017. Wilson and Pruitt turned themselves in to the Amarillo Police Department on April 1, 2017. Wilson was later found guilty of murder and sentenced to 33 years in prison in October 2023. Pruitt was still awaiting trial as of October 2023.
The case highlighted the criminal past of both Wilson and Pruitt, with Wilson having multiple arrests dating back to 2013, including possession of drug paraphernalia, and Pruitt having minor offenses such as speeding tickets and driving with an invalid license. The weapon used in the shooting was never found.
The loss of Gregory Lynn Battee Jr. deeply affected his community, with neighbors expressing shock and sorrow over his death. His neighbors remembered him for his kindness and the positive impact he had on those around him.
