Christopher Ryan Battelli, a 29-year-old white male, was tragically killed on December 24, 2016, in Katy, Texas. Born on May 26, 1987, in Anchorage, Alaska, Chris was a U.S. Air Force veteran who served from 2005 to 2009, including a deployment to Baghdad, Iraq. He was known for his easy-going, free-spirited nature and his dedication to helping others.
Chris worked as a vehicle inspector at Katy Quick Lube and spent his free time with friends and family at a local brewery.
On the early morning of Christmas Eve, Chris was shot once in the head while sitting in his parked vehicle outside the Southland Bar and Grill in Katy. The assailant, Earl James Semien, a 54-year-old acquaintance of Chris, was later charged with his murder. Despite their acquaintance, no motive for the killing was ever discovered. Semien, a felon prohibited from possessing a firearm, had been in possession of the weapon for approximately three weeks before the murder. After the shooting, Semien handed the firearm to a friend and instructed them to dispose of it.
In March 2019, Semien pleaded guilty to charges of murder and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison for the murder and an additional 10 years for the firearm charge. The sentencing took place in the 400th District Court before Presiding Judge Maggie Jaramillo. Chris's friends and family were present in the courtroom during the sentencing, seeking closure for the senseless execution of their loved one. The case remains a haunting reminder of the tragic loss of a kind, gentle, and fun-loving individual who touched the lives of those around him.
