On April 18, 2015, 43-year-old Warren H. Batie, a resident of Taylorsville, Utah, was fatally shot in the O'Brien area of Josephine County, Oregon. The incident occurred following a dispute over the ownership of a truck between Batie and 46-year-old Jeffrey Hunsaker, also from Utah.
Authorities responded to a call around 11 a.m. and found Batie deceased at the scene with apparent gunshot wounds.
Concurrently, Hunsaker was being transported to Three Rivers Hospital in Grants Pass by private vehicle for treatment of a gunshot wound to his leg. Oregon State Police stopped the vehicle en route, detained Hunsaker, and facilitated his transfer to the hospital for medical care.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the altercation between Batie and Hunsaker escalated into a shootout, resulting in Batie's death and Hunsaker's injury. Over a year later, in August 2016, Hunsaker, by then a resident of O'Brien, Oregon, was indicted on two counts of felon in possession of a firearm related to the April 2015 shooting. Additionally, he faced charges including three counts of felon in possession of a firearm and manufacturing of marijuana.
Warren 'Beetle' Batie was born on February 6, 1972, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Donald and Sylvia Batie. He graduated from Taylorsville High School in 1990 and served proudly in the United States Coast Guard. In 1995, he married Vicki Hogan, and together they had two children, Aspen and Jameson. Batie was known for his love of the outdoors, particularly hunting and fishing, and was a dedicated Denver Broncos fan. He worked as a certified arborist for the family business, All Around Tree and Spray Service, and took pride in his work, including being part of delivering the National Holiday tree to the White House in 1996.
The tragic loss of Warren Batie was deeply felt by his family, friends, and community. A memorial fund was established in his honor to support his family during this difficult time.
