Jason Clark Battle is a serial killer who appears in Season Three of Criminal Minds.
Background
What is revealed about Battle's past is only that he did military service from 1992 to 1996, took a job in law enforcement on 29 December 1997. He has a BA in Administration of Justice. In July 2002 he earned a Meritorious Award For Bravery in the Line of Duty and in October 2005 he earned an Award of Valor. He had enough legal knowledge to use legal terms, but he apparently dropped out of law school or didn't qualify for a higher education. In Lucky and Penelope he was a Deputy Sheriff, not having been able to be further promoted since his superiors noticed that there was something wrong with him.
Season Three
Garcia met Battle by accident in the café she goes to every morning. His computer glitched, but Garcia used her computer knowledge to fix it. He then asked her out, recognising her name as one of the people involved in investigating his murders. After a date at a restaurant, Battle shot her in the chest outside her house.
Later, Battle returns to the scene to learn that Garcia has survived and begins stalking her after her release from the hospital. He attempts to break into her home, but is chased away by Morgan, who had been staying at Garcia's apartment for her protection.
At the BAU, JJ is heading to her office as Agent Fuchs is escorting a uniformed Deputy Battle into the bullpen area. Battle approached him to discuss FBI interference with his cases. Kevin Lynch, a hacker brought in to fill in for Garcia, walks past hurriedly, but Fuchs stops him to introduce him to Deputy Battle and ask him to access some files. Lynch hesitates, looking right into Battle's eyes for a moment before he precedes the two into the bullpen. Lynch sits at the first available computer station and keeps his back to Fuchs and Battle as he works at the computer. Battle keeps up a conversation with Fuchs about why an FBI Analyst would be keeping tabs on his murder cases. He asks if he can speak with Garcia, and implies that she might have something to do with the murder cases herself. Battle asks that his files be removed from the FBI computers until Fuchs' investigation of Garcia is completed. Lynch agrees to do it.
Battle is watching everyone in the bullpen, and notices when Hotchner comes out of his office and heads towards Rossi's. They know that he will start shooting the moment he feels that his bluff has been called. Rossi believes Battle is trying to prove to himself that he's smarter than everyone in the FBI. They do not have a clear shot at Battle without putting someone else in the room at risk.
In the bullpen, Hotchner and Rossi have made their way down to the main floor, pretending to discuss a file, but Battle is watching them carefully. Lynch turns to Battle to tell him that all of his files are now erased from the FBI computers. Fuchs – the only man who doesn't know what is going on - moves to lead Battle out of the office.
Reid, Prentiss and Morgan know it will come to a shoot-out, and they head out to get back to the BAU offices. Garcia won't let them leave without her.
Battle grabs Fuchs from behind and pulls his gun. Hotchner and Rossi's guns are out a moment later. Rossi tells Battle that he doesn't want his decorated career to end like this, but Battle is arrogant. He believes that the best minds in the FBI cannot even stop him. Battle's back is to the glass doors into the hallway and he doesn't see JJ making her way carefully towards him, her own gun drawn. Rossi and Hotchner, standing directly across from him, see her clearly, and even though they make no moves, Battle senses something. He turns his head to look behind him and JJ never hesitates – she shoots him right between the eyes. The heavy glass of the doors crashes down on the floor.
Pathology
Battle had a Hero Syndrome and thus had a great need for praise and respect. He would gun people down and call for help, maing him appear to be a hero who saved their lives. If they died, Battle still became a hero, being the first on the scene.
Modus Operandi
Battle typically used a revolver in his shooting. This may be to prevent any shell casings from being found at the scene.
Known victims
- Three unnamed victims (killed by the shootings)
- Has presumably injured more
- Penelope Garcia (attempted)
- Officer Matt Fleming