Chris Wayne Shuffield

Case record: Chris Wayne Shuffield

Background

Chris Wayne Shuffield was born on 03/26/1980. He received his sentence on February 5, 2003, at the age of 23. Shuffield had an education level of 9 and was recorded as white male with brown hair and brown eyes. His height was 5 ft 8 in and his weight was 162.

Shuffield’s county and state were listed as Bowie County, Bowie Texas. His native state was Bowie Texas. A prior occupation was listed as none given. A prior prison record was listed as none.

Shuffield was described as an admitted narcotics addict. His former wife, Missy Mills, testified that he had lost his wife and child when he refused to give up drugs.

People

• Chris Wayne Shuffield — defendant
• Billy Shuffield Jr. — co-defendant
• Lance Luke Walker — victim; a 36-year-old white male U.S. Air Force veteran
• Sheriff James Prince — Bowie County Sheriff
• James Prince — same person referenced by name in relation to interrogation statements
• Al Smith / Prosecutor Al Smith — prosecutor referenced during cross-examination
• Bill Schubert — Shuffield’s lawyer
• Dr. Wayne Snodgrass — defense expert, University of Texas Medical School toxicology department
• Missy Mills — Shuffield’s former wife and witness

The offence

On 07/29/2001, in Simms, Texas, Shuffield and one co-defendant went to the residence of a 36-year-old white male, Lance Luke Walker.

Shuffield retrieved a shotgun from the victim’s bedroom and shot the victim one time. Shuffield then retrieved a .380 caliber pistol and shot the victim two more times, resulting in his death.

After the shootings, the subjects took the victim’s wallet, guns, knives, pills and truck.

The jury found Shuffield guilty of capital murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Lance Luke Walker. The conviction was for the July 28, 2001, shooting death.

During the trial, the defense argued the shooting was not part of a plan to steal Walker’s Dodge pickup truck and that the conviction should be for murder, not capital murder. The prosecution countered that a murder conviction would cheapen Walker’s life. The jury agreed that the intent to kill Walker was part of a preconceived plan to steal his truck and escape the area.

Investigation

Investigators learned that Shuffield and his brother had been to Walker’s home on July 28. They drank some beer, talked, smoked marijuana and played darts.

Walker was found by Sheriff Prince lying face down with his feet near the duct tape line on the carpet used for the dart starting line. Walker lay with his hands under his body with two darts nearby.

The toxicology report of Walker’s autopsy indicated that Walker had Ritalin in his system. The defense expert, Dr. Wayne Snodgrass, testified that the amounts found in Walker at the time of his death exceeded the amount usually prescribed for therapeutic dosages.

Arrest and interrogation

Shuffield’s defense team attacked the statements used to charge his client as contrived statements given by the Bowie County Sheriff’s Department.

As part of the defense strategy, Bill Schubert attacked the statements that Shuffield gave Bowie County Sheriff James Prince at the time of his arrest and later during a formal interrogation. Schubert argued that Prince suggested how the murder took place and that the account was worse than the true story.

Prince said he did no such thing and decried interrogation tactics of denying a suspect a lawyer, lying to them or stretching the truth.

Bill Schubert said:

"Chris did enough talking afterwards. Chris told people what he thought they wanted to hear,"

During the trial, Schubert recalled statements that his client made that indicated that Walker’s shooting was either because of an argument or simply suddenly without reason.

Trial

The trial involved jurors in Bowie County, returning to the 102nd District Court in Bowie County as they considered Shuffield’s fate.

Shuffield was tried for capital murder. The jury found him guilty of capital murder after an hour of deliberations.

The jury deliberations concluded in March 2002. The case was referenced as “NEW BOSTON, Texas — Jurors in the trial of Chris Wayne Shuffield found him guilty Friday of capital murder…”

The jury rejected the defense argument that the shooting was not part of a plan to steal Walker’s Dodge pickup truck, and it rejected an argument for a conviction of murder rather than capital murder.

Al Smith accused Shuffield’s team of throwing mud because that was their only defense.

Missy Mills testified that Shuffield was an admitted narcotics addict and that she had lost her husband and child when he refused to give up drugs.

Al Smith recalled that a gunshot went through the top of Walker’s head after Walker had already been shot two other times in the head. Al Smith said:

"That's making sure. That's not mad. He has the side of his head blown off-he doesn't even know what's coming,"

Missy Mills also provided testimony tied to the defense narrative regarding Shuffield’s addiction and family loss.

During cross-examination, Al Smith recalled that Shuffield’s family and friends told Al Smith that Shuffield would not kill someone without having a reason to do it.

Al Smith said:

"(Walker) deserves better. He did nothing wrong,"

Sentencing

Shuffield was sentenced to death on February 5, 2003.

Appeals

The Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas opinion AP - 74574 was referenced as part of the case information.

Outcome

The jury found Shuffield guilty of capital murder for the fatal shooting of a 36-year-old U.S. Air Force veteran, Lance Luke Walker, following the July 28, 2001 shooting death.

Shuffield was later sentenced to death on February 5, 2003.