Published Monday, January 05, 2009 6:05 AM
Police search for a motive
By JANET PHELPS
janet.phelps@theeagle.com
College Station police said Sunday that a 36-year-old man accused of shooting a 29-year-old recent Aggie graduate to death over the weekend did not know the victim.
Police found William Rufus Stephens Jr. unconscious in his truck outside P.O.E.T.S. Billiards in College Station around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Officials said Stephens was "bleeding profusely" from a gunshot wound to his head. He was taken to the College Station Medical Center, where he died.
College Station resident Christopher Keith Schmotzer was arrested around 10 p.m. Saturday and charged with murder. He remained in the Brazos County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail Sunday night.
College Station police spokesman Lt. Rodney Sigler said Sunday night that police do not have a motive for the shooting.
He said P.O.E.T.S. employees who found Stephens in his truck called 911. Sigler said police believe Stephens was shot before 3 a.m.
Sigler said Stephens, who was a bartender at Ozona Grill & Bar, spent Friday night with co-workers at P.O.E.T.S. Billiards, a night spot frequented by Ozona staff at 1637 Texas Ave. in Central Station, formerly Culpepper Plaza.
Stephens' friends told police that Schmotzer was "staring at them intently" while they were in the pool hall and "continued to stare at them throughout the night."
When P.O.E.T.S. closed, Stephens and a friend went to a parking lot behind the bar and began playing catch football, Sigler said.
"[Schmotzer] continued to watch them while they played football," Sigler said.
The friend told police that when he left P.O.E.T.S., he saw Stephens sitting in his truck and Schmotzer standing in the parking lot.
Schmotzer told police that he had parked in the lot behind P.O.E.T.S. and had watched Stephens and his friends playing football, Sigler said, adding that it did not appear that Schmotzer told police he shot Stephens.
Authorities found a bullet embedded in the passenger's side door of Stephens' truck and a bullet casing at the scene, Sigler said.
Video footage shows Schmotzer's vehicle pulling out of the parking lot after the shooting, and police found a gun loaded with the same brand of ammunition found at the scene during a search of Schmotzer's truck.
Schmotzer's wife told police he carried a handgun in his vehicle at all times, according to police reports.
Stephens' ex-girlfriend, Felicia Ristaino, said Stephens did not know Schmotzer.
She said Stephens, who graduated from Texas A&M University in December with a bachelor's degree in wildlife and fisheries sciences, got along with most people.
"He's a big scary-looking dude, but he's so sweet and so laid-back. He has the best heart you'll ever meet in your life," she said. "Anyone could get along with him."
Ristaino and Stephens dated for more than three years and had lived together in College Station since 2005 before parting ways about three months ago, she said. Still, Ristaino said, the two were like family to each other.
Ristaino said Stephens had worked at Ozona for at least two years. They were also regular patrons of Ozona, and Ristaino said Stephens' co-workers were their best friends.
Ristaino and Stephens knew each other in high school in Boerne and reunited years later when they ran into each other at a bar in San Antonio.
"I ran into him, and we hung out all night, and he came home with me and we spent every day together after that," she said.
Ristaino said Stephens wanted to play football when he graduated high school but circumstances out of his control caused his scholarships to fall through. He attended junior college off and on and worked while deciding what to do next.
In 2004, Ristaino said, Stephens started school at Texas A&M University. She said it was one of his dreams to go to school where his father had attended college.
"He got his grades up and made it into A&M, which was his dream. He paid for his own class ring. He was so proud of that," she said.
On the day Stephens got his Aggie ring, Ristaino said, she surprised him with concert tickets to see Robert Earl Keen, who signed a T-shirt for Stephens, which Ristaino had framed for him.
After graduation, Ristaino said, Stephens planned to spend a few weeks in Hawaii with family and friends. Ristaino said she encouraged Stephens to follow whatever opportunities life presented.
"I told him do whatever life takes you. You're not going to regret it," she said.
She said Stephens loved fishing, nature and being outdoors.
Eventually, Ristaino said, she believed Stephens wanted to return to his family's ranch in Burnet.
"That was one of his dream jobs," she said.
Ristaino said she and Stephens texted back and forth on Friday. That was the first time they had talked in about a month and the last time she talked to him before he died.
"We missed each other," she said. "I was just glad I got to talk to him."
Comments
[comment]
24 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
On:
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 6:57 PM
Comment Title: Man killed at P.O.E.T.S.
I am so sick of going to this website and reading the trash, hatred and ignorance of so many of people who post comments here! Some of these people look for reasons to hate and pit one community against the other. College Station and their residents are no better than the residents of Bryan. "All people" have good and bad qualities regardless of whether they live in Bryan or College Station. Just because you call yourself an "AGGIE" or you support TAMU doesn't mean you are of superior intelligence, pedigree, or integrity! Brazos County is RACIST, always has been and always will be. Narrow-minds need a reason to hate no matter the subject... One College Station resident killed another! Does it matter that he lived in College Station or that he attend TAMU or drove a chevy truck? No!! It doesn't matter people. Violence happens in inner-cities, rural communities, suburbia and in your dear Uncle George's neighborhoods! When your humanity is based on whether a person lives east or west of Hwy. 6 you have indeed have a serious problem. Bryan/College Station doesn't breed evil. Its the hatred and division created by narrow minds and people unwilling to change. Like it or not change has come to Brazos County...if you haters are lucky, it just might do something to expand your minds and I know its' a long-short...maybe expand your hearts!
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Posted by:
Well JWG On:
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 3:18 PM
Comment Title:
If you would have read the comments you MIGHT have realized he was addressing the snipers and finger pointers rather than the article itself.
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Posted by:
JWG On:
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 3:11 PM
Comment Title: Come On
And who cares if you are from a big town? The article was well written and let the readers know a little bit about the mans life. And yes, that is small-town quality writing, where we tend to give a crap about each other still, even in 2009. Get with it, or move back to your big city.
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Posted by:
sad for the loss of Rufus On:
Wednesday, January 07, 2009 1:23 AM
Comment Title: sad for loss
I can't believe people are talking about what town the victim and accused shooter are from... who cares. Maybe it's because I live in a big city and I'm not used to small town life. I mean seriously, what does the guy's truck, Alma mater or place of employment have to do with ANYTHING? My condolences to Rufus' family. I'm praying for them as well as the shooter's family, and that the shooter will make this easier on everyone and just be honest and repentant.
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Posted by:
I stand corrected On:
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 7:27 AM
Comment Title:
This long time College Station resident did a bad thing; however, we will not judge all College Station residents on the actions of one man.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, January 06, 2009 6:17 AM
Comment Title:
Basher from Bryan. He was not a Aggie. Get some facts. people have told you this for 3 Day's now who worked with him in Bryan.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 9:29 PM
Comment Title:
This long time College Station resident and Aggie did a bad thing, and we surely know we cannot judge and entire group by only one of its members.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 9:10 PM
Comment Title:
This Bryan worker did a bad thing. But not all in bryan are bad.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 8:18 PM
Comment Title:
I have a very hard time praying for this coward Chris. He gunned down an innocent, unarmed friend of mine. This coward made the decision to end a great man's life, while also devastating his own family at the same time. I will pray for Rufus, his family, and the assasin's family, but not him. Ruf will be loved and missed dearly. I am proud to have shared many wonderful experiences with him and will keep the amazing memories with me. There is no place in this world for these senseless acts of violence.
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Posted by:
J. On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 5:52 PM
Comment Title:
I have to agree with the last comment, I know Chris on a personal level, he is my friend, I would hope you all would spend a little less time on a computer, telling everyone what an ignorant "opinion" you have, and a little more time getting on your knee's, praying for the family, and their losses. Stop the hate people, have some empathy for these people, who are real people, both parties here have lost something, neither will ever get it back. Pray for Rufus, those who knew him, say he was a great person, pray for his family in this time of sorrow, and pray for Chris, pray for his family, his wife, his beautiful children, these people are all devastated at these events, what they all need is prayer, not ignorant opinions....
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 5:24 PM
Comment Title:
If you have never worked with Chris or got to meet his family, then you have no reason to talk about what might be wrong or anything about his family. He was a great father and husband and co-worker. I saw the excitement in his face when he told me about his second kid. I have known him and his wife before they were even married. She is going to miss him something awful. Did you know that he is a great chef? He proudly served in the Air Force? Until you the facts of his life quit making assumptions. I feel terrible for the victim, and his family.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 3:48 PM
Comment Title:
What does any of this have to do with Tom Light Chevrolet?
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 2:52 PM
Comment Title: To thee poster A friend of Rufus
You sure know alot about Chris, or think you do. Chris is also an Aggie. He has a ring and a maroon truck with special made decals that say "Aggie Edition". I happen to know Chris and people are shocked that he could do something like this. If you met him you would never guess he could harm a fly. That is the problem with the CAC laws. People no longer fist fight, they reach for a gun, especialy when drinking. This isnt just some random violence. There is alot more to this story. Im sorry he did this and my prayers are for the victims family and for Chris family. This was an Aggie killing another Aggie. Also another black eye for Tom Light Chevrolet. (where he was employed)
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Posted by:
merv On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 2:35 PM
Comment Title: rufus will be missed
Although I only knew him from Ozona, my wife and I will miss Rufus deeply. He always stopped what he was doing when we walked in to say hi to ask how our kids were doing. He made us feel like part of his family. We were just as excited as he was that he was graduating and getting ready to move on to "the real world". We were sad each summer when he left to spend time at his family's place in Arkansas, but we knew he would be back. It is going to be bitter sweet going to Ozona knowing that when we walk to the patio bar, we won't see that baby blue "doo rag" towering over the crowd.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 1:18 PM
Comment Title:
To the friend of Rufus: You know, a night out with friends or coworkers every know and then is not a bad thing. You're acting like that's a bad thing. I'm sure the cops are questioning the people he was with, and as far as his wife telling the cops the information on his gun - what would you suggest she do? Not tell them?
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Posted by:
a friend of Rufus On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 12:51 PM
Comment Title:
The killer works at Tom Light Chevrolet. He has a wife and 2 children. Why the hell was he out bar with his co workers when he has a family at home? Why isn't his coworkers being questions? And it was his wife who told the police officers that her husband had the same make of gun. HMMM makes you wonder about his home life. Well, she free of him now. Rufus was a great guy, a life ahead of him and to have it snubbed like a wick is the saddest part of this story. He was going to go home to his folks, but now everyone loses. I am so curious of the motive. Sounds like the uneducated jealous of the educated.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 12:16 PM
Comment Title:
This was the type of fast police work we need in Bryan. Great job CSPD.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 12:14 PM
Comment Title: Stared at group all evening
First, I would say how horrible this thing is. And while I am not looking to lay blame with the victim, I have to wonder why any of the friends left each other alone rather than seeing to it that all of them got out of there. This is especially true given the statements that Schmotzer stared at Stephens and/or his group the entire evening. If his attention toward them was so evident and ongoing, they should have looked out for each other, leaving no one alone.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 12:14 PM
Comment Title:
You are the only one doing that AM/CS basher from bryan.
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Posted by:
El gran burro On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 11:29 AM
Comment Title:
There are two other articles on this incident. Why couldn't those of you, who did, make your classless remarks on one of them and leave this one to those wanting to share positive remembrances of the deceased.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 11:10 AM
Comment Title:
You know, it doesn't really matter which city these two lived in or whether or not they were Aggies (they both were, the one standing accused I know and he did go to TAMU). The focus should be on the fact that one's dead, the other is accused of doing it.
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Posted by:
TKDMom On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 10:06 AM
Comment Title: Check Your Facts
You wrote: Comment Title: Aggie too I believe Chris Schmotzer was an aggie too, but it looks better not to post that I guess. This is biased college station too. Do you have any proof that the alleged violator is/was an Aggie? Have a graduation date? If not, you're just spreading rumors. If the Eagle reporter doesn't know for sure, I wouldn't expect such a statement to appear in print. If the man is, in fact, an Aggie. You can bet that it will come out as the facts in this case unfold.
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Posted by:
A Friend On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 9:50 AM
Comment Title: Seriously!?
WTF he was one of the nicest guys in the world, and was one of those types of people that everyone should desire to have in thier lives. It doesn't matter if the other guy was or wasn't an aggie, is all that matters is that Rufus had conviction and a love for what he had made of himself and what he was a part of. I can't believe someone could be so ignorant and disrespectful of the dead to bash that. Seriously you need to go to screw yourself, and more importantly get a life because no one want to hear you talk that way about a great person. Yes I knew him personally, and it brings me to tears seeing you bash his memory this way.
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Posted by:
linda On:
Monday, January 05, 2009 9:46 AM
Comment Title: delete sick comments, please!
Those who posted such tacky, sick comments regarding this murder should delete their own comments. A person is dead here, and you have the brainless idea to post such hurtful comments. I do not care where anyone is from, Bryan, College Station, or another country, this is a sad, sick situation.....perpetuated between these two cities that join each other.
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