July 21, 2023 - Charges have been filed against a suspect arrested in the fatal shooting of a man at 9100 Martin Luther KIng Boulevard about 10:10 p.m. on July 10.

The suspect, Kenneth Wayne Thomas, 55, is charged with murder in the 263rd State District Court.  A booking photo of Thomas is attached to this news release.

The victim is identified as Kenneth Battle, 67.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant A. Dudley and Detective K. Fregia reported:

Officers were dispatched to a person down call at the above address and found Mr. Battle lying in a grassy median.  He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased.

Witnesses reported seeing the suspect steal Battle's vehicle and then park it in a residential area near the shooting scene.  There was no known suspect description at the time.

Further investigation led to the identity of Thomas as the suspect in the case.  He was taken into custody on Thursday (July 20) and subsequently charged in the shooting.


Kenneth Wayne Thomas



Update: JFC/SOA     7-21-23
JFC/SOA      7-11-23
Inc #097971223