On Monday, April 6, 2020, officers responded to a 911 call in reference to a suspect discharging a firearm in the 2000 block Cedarhill Dr. at 12:05 a.m.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located evidence and identified a suspect.

Detectives with the Killeen Police Department, General Crimes Unit, completed a follow-up investigation and presented the case to the U.S. Attorneys Office in Waco, Texas.  A Federal Grand Jury indicted Michael Cornell Jones, 38, of Killeen for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.          

On Thursday, July 30, 2020, the U.S. Marshals Lonestar Fugitive Task Force and Killeen Police Department arrested Jones in the 2200 block Caprice Dr. after an arrest warrant was obtained from the indictment.

Jones remains in Federal custody.

On Sunday, July 26, 2020, at approximately 5:50 p.m., officers were dispatched to Interstate Highway 14 between Stan Schlueter Loop and Rosewood Drive in reference to a 911 call about a crash involving a motorcycle.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located an unresponsive male lying in the roadway.  Officers immediately started to perform life saving measures until paramedics arrived.  The operator of the motorcycle, Seandell Ericson Hawkins, 53, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke at 6:43 p.m.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas. 

The preliminary investigation revealed that a red motorcycle was traveling eastbound in the outside lane on IH-14 at a high rate of speed.  When the operator of the motorcycle collided into the rear of a Toyota 4Runner.  The impact caused the operator to be ejected, coming to a rest in the roadway.  The motorcycle operator was wearing a helmet.  The four occupants of the 4Runner reported minor injuries.

Investigators with the Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit asks anyone who may have witnessed this crash, to call the department at (254) 501-8800.  This fatality continues to be investigated and information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, officers with the Killeen Police Department were working a crime scene in the 4800 block of Rancier Avenue, when several citizens arrived to observe and began to heckle the officers.  One individual in the crowd was making threatening comments in public towards the Killeen Police Department, police officers and their families as the video of the scene was posted on social media; namely Facebook.  During the video, the suspect threatened a nearby officer by threatening to commit arson against the officer and his patrol unit.   

Through the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, were able to identify the female suspect.  On July 17, 2020, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office returned a complaint charging Sharon Yvonne Spriggs, 36, of Killeen, with Terroristic Threat to a Peace Officer. 

On July 20, 2020, The United States Marshals Service – Lone Star Fugitive Task Force began fugitive operations into Spriggs.  It was determined that Spriggs was in Florida and detectives requested the assistance of the United States Marshals Service-Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force.

At approximately 6:30 p.m., the USMS-Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force located and arrested Spriggs without incident at 1445 South Congress Avenue in Delray Beach, FL.  Spriggs is currently in the Palm Beach County Jail awaiting extradition.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, at approximately 10:13 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 2200 block of Sparrow Road in reference to a 911 call about a shooting victim.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a 16-year-old female juvenile with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

Through the investigation, detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Special Victims Unit, discovered that the deceased juvenile victim had inappropriate physical contact with a family member. 

On Wednesday, July 15, 2020, this case was reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and a complaint was returned charging Carlos Marece Brown Jr., 27, with Sexual Assault of a Child and a warrant was obtained.  At approximately 6:05 p.m., Brown turned himself in to the Killeen City Jail.  On Thursday, July 16, 2020, Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin arraigned Brown and set his bond at $100,000. 

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Through the investigation, detectives with the Homicide Unit identified a suspect in this case.  On March 21, 2020, this case was presented to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and a complaint was returned charging Luke Matthew Cuellar, 25, with Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence.  Cuellar was arrested and booked into the Killeen City Jail.  Investigation continued.

On April 15, 2020, detectives received a complaint from the Bell County District Attorney’s Office charging Cuellar with the Murder of Ann Smith Evans.  Justice of the Peace Coleman arraigned Cuellar and set his bond at $1,000,000.  Cuellar is currently in the Bell County Jail. 

This Murder continues to be investigated and information will be released as it becomes available.

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Killeen Police Investigate a Suspicious Death on Wisconsin Drive.

On Sunday, February 9, 2020, at approximately 10:43 A.M., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Wisconsin Drive in reference to a welfare concern.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a white female identified as Ann Smith Evans, 64, deceased. 

Evans was pronounced deceased at 11:47 A.M. by Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke. He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Thursday, June 25, 2020, at approximately 1:12 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Henderson Street in reference to a 911 call about an aggravated assault. Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a female lying on the ground not breathing. Officers immediately started to perform life saving measures until paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to Advent Health and subsequently transported to Baylor Scott & White in Temple in critical condition.  The suspect had fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival but was located near Sprott Avenue and College Street. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the Killeen City Jail.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim and the suspect were involved in a verbal altercation when the suspect grabbed the victim and threw her off the balcony. 

This case was presented to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office on June 26, 2020, and a complaint was returned charging Raymond Antonio Rivera, 35, with Aggravated Assault Causes Serious Bodily Injury.  Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke arraigned Rivera and set his bond at $500,000.  Rivera is currently in the Bell County Jail.

On Saturday, June 27, 2020, the victim, Nilsa Maria Arce, 50, succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased at 10:25 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Ivey at the hospital. 

This case continues to be investigated and other charges are pending. 

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

The Killeen Police Department would like to remind residents of the Fourth of July holiday and with it comes the responsibility of families to celebrate safely and legally. 

Fireworks are illegal to discharge within city limits and it shall be unlawful for any person to possess, store, offer for sale, sell at retail, or use or explode any fireworks within the corporate limits of the city and within the area immediately adjacent and contiguous to the city limits and extending outside the city limits for a distance of five thousand (5,000) feet, unless such area is within the corporate limits of another municipality.  Any person in violation may be charged with a class C misdemeanor and a fine up to $2,000.00.

The department will have extra patrol units conducting a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) enforcement operation during the evening and into the night of July 4^th.  This consists of placing dedicated resources in specific enforcement zones throughout the city, with the specific missions of traffic safety enforcement and DWI interdiction.  This effort was made possible through our partnership with the Texas Department of Transportation and the 2020 Comprehensive STEP grant. 

Drivers are encouraged to observe the posted speed limits and to avoid drinking and driving for their own safety and the safety of others.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

This past weekend, officers responded to several burglaries of Houses of Worship within the City.   Officers were told that an unknown person(s) forced entry into the buildings and vandalized them, also stealing property. 

The suspect targeted the following:

1. Freedom Fellowship Center located at 813 S. WS Young Drive
2. Abundant Life Church of God located at 1210 Florence Road
3. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located at 1410 S. 2^nd Street
4. Killeen Spanish Seventh-Day Adventist Church located at 3705 Zephyr Road
5. Marlboro Heights Baptist Church located at 800 R A Abercrombie Drive
6. Cal Community Center located at 1002 Jeffries Avenue

On Sunday, June 28^th, officers were dispatched to the Cal Community Center located at 1002 Jeffries Avenue in reference to a Burglary of a Building.  Officers were in the area and located a suspect matching the description provided to them from previous reports.  At approximately 1:29 p.m., the suspect was detained and arrested without incident and transported to the Killeen City Jail. 

This case was presented for review to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 and a complaint was returned charging Chad Michael Carrion, 31, with Burglary of a Building.  Carrion was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin who set his bond at $50,000.  Carrion is currently is the Bell County Jail.

These burglaries continue to be investigated and additional charges are pending. 

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Tuesday, June 30^th, late in the evening hours, Special Agents with the Army Fort Hood Criminal Investigation Division contacted the Killeen Police Department and the U.S. Marshals – Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in reference to a person of interest in the missing soldier case from Fort Hood, Vanessa Guillen.   We were informed that the person of interest had left the post and was inside the City of Killeen.   During the course of the investigation, information was provided on the location of the suspect.  The suspect was located walking in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue and as officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect produced a weapon and committed suicide by shooting himself.  The suspect was pronounced deceased at 1:17 a.m. by Justice of the Peace Garland Potvin at the scene. 

The person of interest was an active duty soldier and his name has been withheld pending notification next of kin through the Army Casualty Assistance Office. 

Any further inquiries to the investigation regarding Vanessa Guillen will be directed to the Army Fort Hood CID. 

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the Killeen Police Department along with the assistance of the U.S. Marshals – Lone Star Fugitive Task Force assisted investigators with the Fort Hood Criminal Investigation Division in one of their criminal cases.  At approximately 1:29 a.m., officers located the suspect in the 4700 block of East Rancier Avenue.  As officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, the suspect displayed a weapon and discharged it towards himself.  The suspect succumbed from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.   

More information will be released as it becomes available. 

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department