On December 30, 2019, at approximately 7:34 a.m., Officers were dispatched to the 800 block of College Street in reference to a 911 call about a gunshot victim.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a non-responsive male victim.  Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters pronounced the 29 year old, white male deceased on scene at 7:56 a.m.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

The victim’s name has been withheld pending the notification of his next of kin.

The Killeen Police Department Homicide Unit continues to investigate this incident and information will be released as it becomes available.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Homicide Unit, are asking anyone who may have seen anything or has information about this Murder, to contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also download the P3Tips App for IOS or Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information is confidential and anonymous and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Friday, December 27, 2019, at approximately 12:25 p.m., Officers were dispatched to the 2300 block of Botanical Drive in reference to a shots fired call.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 30 year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound.  He was airlifted to Baylor Scott and White in critical condition.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were in a verbal altercation when shots were fired.  Witnesses told officers that the suspect fled on foot towards Andover Drive and barricaded himself inside a residence.  Patrol officers evacuated nearby residences and setup a perimeter.  The Tactical Response Unit was deployed and several commands were made for the suspect to exit the residence.  At approximately 2:41 p.m., members of the SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) Team cleared the residence and did not locate the suspect.

Through the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Homicide Unit, were able to identify the suspect involved in this case. On Friday, December 27, 2019, the Bell County District Attorneys’ Office reviewed this case and returned a complaint charging 27 year-old Jeffrie Sterling Lane Jr. with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

On Saturday, December 28, 2019, detectives received information that the suspect was in the Austin area.  At approximately 12:30 p.m., detectives with the United States Marshals Service located and apprehended Lane.  He was transported to the Killeen City Jail.

We would like to thank the United States Marshals Service-Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Waco and Austin Divisions for their assistance in apprehending the suspect.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Saturday, December 28, 2019, at approximately 1:03 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 4100 block of Stan Schlueter Loop in reference to a crash.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 19 year-old male occupant of the vehicle suffering from a gunshot wound.  He was immediately transported to Baylor Scott and White in critical condition.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was attending a party at a newly constructed residence with several area high school students.  The victim left the party in a vehicle towards Stan Schlueter when shots were fired.  Witnesses told officers that an older white sedan was in the area where the crash was.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Violent Crimes Unit, are looking for an older white sedan, possibly a Honda.

We urge parents to contact the police department if you or your teenager has any information about this party that occurred on Colina Drive.  Please call the police department with your information at 254-501-8800.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen anything or has information about this incident, to contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also download the P3Tips App for IOS or Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information is confidential and anonymous and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

The Killeen Police Department Violent Crimes Unit continues to investigate this incident and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

UPDATE – December 24, 2019

On Monday, December 23, 2019, the passenger of the Hyundai, 19 year-old Vivian Michelle Gonzalez, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace David Barfield at 3:57 p.m.

 ###

Killeen Police Investigate a Fatal Crash on State Hwy 195.

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, officers responded to the intersection of State Hwy 195 and Chaparral Road at approximately 11:10 p.m., after receiving a 911 call about a major crash.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a silver sedan and a gray SUV in the roadway.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2015 Hyundai Elantra, occupied by two, was at a red light on Chaparral Road.  When the light turned green and as the Hyundai entered the intersection to turn left onto southbound Hwy 195, a gray 2020 Nissan Armada traveling northbound on Hwy 195 in the inside lane, disregarded the red light and collided into the left side of the Hyundai.   The passenger of the Hyundai was immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Medical Center with life threatening injuries and has been subsequently transported to Baylor Scott & White in Temple.

The driver of the Hyundai, 21 year-old Patrick Lee Stephens, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters at 11:58 p.m.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

The three occupants of the Nissan Armada reported minor injuries.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit continues to investigate this fatality and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

UPDATE – December 22, 2019

Through the investigation, Investigators with the Traffic Unit have determined that the suspect vehicle is a pewter or lighter color 2000-2006 Chevy Tahoe.  There will be minimal damage to the front right headlight.  

We are asking anyone who may have seen anything or has information about this suspect vehicle involved in this fatality, to contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also download the P3Tips App for IOS or Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information is confidential and anonymous and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

###

 Killeen Police Investigates a Pedestrian Fatality on Jasper.

Officers responded to the 1000 block of Jasper Road at approximately 7:19 p.m., on Saturday, December 21, 2019, after receiving a 911 call about a crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a male lying in the roadway.  He was immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian was crossing southbound on Jasper Road.  An unknown SUV, traveling eastbound in the inside lane, struck the pedestrian.  The suspect vehicle fled the scene.

The pedestrian, 53 year-old Michael Dean Cook, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 8:56 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

The Traffic Unit continues to investigate this fatality and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, officers responded to the intersection of State Hwy 195 and Chaparral Road at approximately 11:10 p.m., after receiving a 911 call about a major crash.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a silver sedan and a gray SUV in the roadway.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a silver 2015 Hyundai Elantra, occupied by two, was at a red light on Chaparral Road.  When the light turned green and as the Hyundai entered the intersection to turn left onto southbound Hwy 195, a gray 2020 Nissan Armada traveling northbound on Hwy 195 in the inside lane, disregarded the red light and collided into the left side of the Hyundai.   The passenger of the Hyundai was immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Medical Center with life threatening injuries and has been subsequently transported to Baylor Scott & White in Temple.

The driver of the Hyundai, 21 year-old Patrick Lee Stephens, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters at 11:58 p.m.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

The three occupants of the Nissan Armada reported minor injuries.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit continues to investigate this fatality and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Officers responded to the 1000 block of Jasper Road at approximately 7:19 p.m., on Saturday, December 21, 2019, after receiving a 911 call about a crash involving a pedestrian and a vehicle.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a male lying in the roadway.  He was immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian was crossing southbound on Jasper Road.  An unknown SUV, traveling eastbound in the inside lane, struck the pedestrian.  The suspect vehicle fled the scene.

The pedestrian, 53 year-old Michael Dean Cook, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at 8:56 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

Investigators with the Killeen Police Department, Traffic Unit, are asking anyone who may have seen anything or has information about the suspect vehicle involved in this fatality, to contact Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also download the P3Tips App for IOS or Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information is confidential and anonymous and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

The Traffic Unit continues to investigate this fatality and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Saturday, December 21, 2019, Killeen Police responded to IH-14, at approximately 3:37 a.m., after receiving a 911 call in reference to a crash involving a motorcycle and a pedestrian.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located two black males lying in the roadway on the westbound side of IH-14 near the Fort Hood Street exit ramp.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the pedestrian was walking on IH-14 in the outside lane and a 2009 Harley Davidson Street Glide was traveling westbound in the outside lane.  The weather conditions at the time of the crash were very foggy and the roadway was wet.  The operator of the motorcycle was unable to take evasive action and struck the pedestrian.  The motorcycle operator was transported to the Carl R. Darnall Medical Center where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Justice of the Peace Daryl Peters pronounced the pedestrian, 43 year-old Reggie Stamps deceased at approximately 4:41 a.m. at the scene.  JP Peters pronounced the operator of the motorcycle, 53 year-old Kerwin Royce Kilgore deceased at approximately 5:08 a.m. at the medical center.  JP Peters ordered autopsies to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas on Stamps and Kilgore.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit continues to investigate this fatality and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

The Killeen Police Department, in partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation, will promote traffic safety via increased traffic enforcement throughout the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020.  This has been made possible through a comprehensive Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant.  The program will allow officers to patrol key areas identified as having a higher volume of serious injury and fatality crashes, and to enforce traffic laws.  Officers working the STEP program will be able to identify, investigate and apprehend intoxicated/impaired drivers in the same key areas, all of which will contribute to a reduction in serious injury and fatality crashes.

In addition, additional resources are being committed to specific dates throughout the year.  The first of these key dates will start on Friday, December 13, 2019, and last until New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2020.

The Killeen Police Department would like to wish everyone a Happy Holidays and a Safe New Year.

 Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police received information that a former teacher’s aide from Gateway High School allegedly engaged in an improper relationship with a student.

Through the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Special Victims Unit, discovered that Louisa Theresa Hernandez had an improper relationship with a male student during the 2018-2019 school year.

This case was reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and on Monday, December 9, 2019, a complaint was returned charging 37 year-old Louisa Theresa Hernandez with an Improper Relationship between Educator and Student.  Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke issued a warrant for her arrest and on Tuesday, December 10, 2019, Hernandez was arrested and was transported to the Killeen City Jail.

We would like to thank the Bell County District Attorney’s Office, Killeen Independent School District, KISD Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service-Lone Star Fugitive Task Force for assisting with this investigation.