Sacramento man found guilty of murdering his ex-wife in 2023 shooting

A Sacramento man who shot and killed his former wife in the backyard of their Meadowview home in 2023 was convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying, Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said Friday.

Jurors found Brian Harold Christensen, 50, guilty at trial Thursday before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Benjamin Galloway. Jurors also found true allegations that Christensen used a firearm in the killing and took advantage of a position of trust.

Christensen faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in state prison when he returns to Galloway’s courtroom Jan. 23 for sentencing.

Christensen and former wife Alma Christensen, had a history of family violence before the fatal shooting, said district attorney’s prosecutors.

Sacramento police were called to Christensen’s home in the 2000 block of 67th Avenue around 3 a.m. May 7, 2023, after he told dispatchers he had shot his ex-wife six times. Officers later found Alma Christensen dead in the backyard. Brian Christensen later admitted to shooting her after a physical altercation, said district attorney’s officials.

This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 9:57 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.