On Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at approximately 12:15 a.m., a patrol officer was traveling northbound on W.S. Young Drive when he observed a black motorcycle traveling southbound on W.S. Young Drive towards Stagecoach Road commit a traffic violation.  The officer turned his patrol vehicle in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop on the motorcycle.  The operator of the motorcycle continued to travel and turned westbound onto Stagecoach Road at a high rate of speed, when the officer lost sight of the motorcycle.   When the officer approached the 1300 block of Stagecoach Road, he located the motorcycle in the roadway and a male lying in a nearby parking lot.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the operator of the motorcycle failed to negotiate the curve while traveling westbound on Stagecoach Road and collided into a retaining wall, causing him to be thrown off from the motorcycle and struck a tree.

21 year-old, Caden Michael Shunk succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased on scene by Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke at 12:58 a.m.  He ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

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

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

At the end of January, 2019, the Killeen Police Department completed the crime data for 2018 and the preliminary data indicated a decrease in all reported Part One UCR crimes in 2018 as compared to 2017:

                                                                           Number of Incidents*                                                                                           2018 / 2017

• 61% decrease in Murders                                           7/18
• 22% decrease in Rape                                              118/151
• 54% decrease in Robbery                                         144/313
• 52% decrease in Aggravated Assault                        303/636
• Overall decrease in Violent Crime was 49%              572/1118

• 25% decrease in Burglaries                                       853/1140
• 6% drop in Larceny (Theft)                                      2249/2403
• 56 % drop in Vehicle Thefts                                       249/566
• Overall decrease in Non-Violent Crime was 18%      3351/4109

   Overall decrease in all reported Part One UCR crime was 25%

Chief Charles Kimble said, “We are pleased to announce that during 2018, the City of Killeen experienced a significant decline in murders and robberies compared to 2017.  The community’s commitment and effort to combat crime has been on the right path and continues to be, in becoming a safer city.  We are also excited to report that 2018 had the lowest crime rate for the City of Killeen for at least three decades!

This was accomplished by a team effort that included the community, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office, the US Attorney’s Office out of Waco, the Texas Department of Public Safety, our Federal Partners – FBI, ATF, DEA, US Marshals, and the men and women of the Killeen Police Department.

*All data for 2018 is preliminary until verified by Texas DPS

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Sunday, January 13, 2019, at approximately 1:35 p.m., officers’ were dispatched to the Liberty 6 Motel located at 529 E. Veteran’s Memorial Blvd., in reference to a 911 call about a shooting victim. Officers arrived and located a 25 year-old male victim suffering from a gunshot wound; he was immediately airlifted to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in critical condition.

No arrests have been made at this time.

Detectives are asking anyone who 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.

Detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division, Violent Crimes Unit, continue to investigate this incident and information will be released as it becomes available.  The victim is currently listed in stable condition.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Thursday, December 20, 2018, at approximately 9:06 p.m., officers’ were dispatched to the 4500 block of Westcliff Drive in reference to a 911 call about a Burglary in progress.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they were told two males, the homeowner and an intruder, were involved in a verbal alteration that became physical.  During the altercation, the intruder was shot.

24 year-old Yorrick Trent Toms, succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown at 9:44 p.m.

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

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Sunday, December 30, 2018, at approximately 12:31 p.m., officers’ were dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of Cedarhill Drive in reference to a burglary call.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they were told that the suspects had fled westbound.  One officer observed the suspects in the area and as he got closer to them, they began to evade, when one of the suspects began to shoot in the direction of the officer; the officer was not able to return fire due to cross traffic on Westcliff.  The suspect’s gunfire struck two citizen’s vehicles and a building.  Additional officers saturated the area and were able to apprehend the suspects, including the shooter and the gun. The Criminal Investigation Division Burglary and Violent Crime Unit detectives arrived to process the scenes.  No injuries reported.

This case was reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and on Monday, December 31, 2018, complaints were returned charging the three suspects below.  Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown arraigned them and set their bond.

 MITCHELL, James Centron – 17 years-old

1.Possession of Dangerous Drug – Bond $3,000

2.Tamper with or Fabricate Evidence – Bond $20,000

         BULLA, Isaiah Javon – 19 years-old

1. Possession of Marijuana – Bond $2,000

DAVIS, Kalogano Nathanal – 17 years-old

1. Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer – Bond $500,000

2. Deadly Conduct Discharges Firearm towards Building –  Bond $100,000

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

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

On Wednesday, December 19, 2018, at approximately 5:02 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Chantz Dr. and Stan Schlueter Lp. in reference to crash.  Upon their arrival officers located three vehicles in the roadway.  Drivers of two of the vehicles were still on scene and were subsequently transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital, in Temple, with what appeared to be serious injuries.  The driver of the third vehicle fled the scene on foot prior to officer’s arrival.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the third vehicle had caused the crash by failing to yield right of way exiting a private drive, and subsequently fled the scene, failing to stop and render aid.  Follow-up investigation was able to Identify the driver of the third vehicle as Larry Pervin Kidd Jr. B/M, D.O.B. 09-02-1995 and a warrant for Kidd’s arrest has been issued for Failure to Stop and Render Aid for a Crash resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit is asking anyone who has information about the suspect’s whereabouts to contact Crime Stoppers at 254- 526- TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also give an anonymous tip by downloading the P3tips app for IOS and Android.  All information is confidential and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this Hit and Run, you could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Never attempt to apprehend a wanted suspect yourself as the potential for violence always exists.

18-013872

On Thursday, December 20, 2018, at approximately 7:36 p.m., officers were dispatched to eastbound Interstate 14 between Trimmier and WS Young in reference to crash involving a vehicle versus pedestrian.  Upon arrival, officers located a 38 year old black female, later identified as Sherrika Abrams, lying motionless on the interstate.  Killeen EMS was contacted, responded to the scene, and subsequently transported Abrams to Seton Hospital. Abrams succumbed to her injuries at Seton Hospital and was pronounced deceased at 8:26PM by Dr. Egan at Seton.   Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown responded to Seton Hospital, confirmed Abrams time of death, and ordered an autopsy to be conducted by the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

The preliminary investigation by the Killeen Police Traffic Unit revealed that Abrams had left the area near the Trimmier CVS pharmacy parking lot, and began walking northbound toward IH 14.  Abrams apparently walked across three lanes of traffic prior to her being struck when she failed to yield right of way to a 2016 Toyota Tacoma that was traveling eastbound in the inside lane of IH 14.  The operator of the Toyota was not injured and stopped to provide the proper information and assistance.  No charges are pending.

Cdr. Erich Morsbach
Chief of Staff
Killeen Police Department

On 8/18/18 the Killeen Police Department responded to the 800 block of Attas in reference to a death investigation.  At that time, an unidentified decomposing body was found in a vacant property, and KPD initiated a death investigation.  An autopsy was conducted at the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences and the findings were returned this week indicating that the victim was a 40 to 50 year old white female who was the victim of a Homicide.  The investigation is ongoing to determine an identity of the victim, as well as the circumstances of her death.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 526-TIPS (8477) or go online anonymously at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also download the app P3 tips on IOS and Android phones.  All information is anonymous and confidential and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person responsible for this crime you could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

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

Cdr. Erich Morsbach
Chief of Staff
Killeen Police Department

On 12/19/18 at approximately 2:15 PM officers were dispatched to the Shorty’s convenience store located at 908 Terrace Dr. in reference to an Aggravated Robbery.  Upon their arrival the victim told officers that a white male wearing a suit, armed with a handgun, came into the store and stole a quantity of currency. The suspect, later identified as Dan Freeman, had fled prior to police arrival, but was later located by officers and taken into custody.

On Friday, December 21, 2018, the Bell County District Attorney’s Office reviewed this case and returned a complaint charging 18 year-old Tommy Dan Freeman of Killeen with Robbery at the Shorty’s Convenience Store, at 908 Terrace Dr. Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown arraigned Tommy Dan Freeman and set his bond at $70,000.

Cdr. Erich Morsbach
Chief of Staff
Killeen Police Department

On Thursday, December 13, 2018, at approximately 8:20 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 400 block of W. Rancier Avenue in reference to crash involving a pedestrian.  Upon arrival, officers located a female lying in the roadway.  The preliminary investigation revealed that the female was  walking southbound across Rancier Avenue when she was struck by a gray Saab that was traveling westbound in the inside lane on Rancier Avenue.  Witnesses told officers that a second vehicle, a gray four door sedan, possibly a Kia, was traveling westbound also in the inside lane, struck the victim as she laid in the roadway. The suspect vehicle subsequently fled the scene. The victim was transported to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple in critical condition.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit is asking anyone who has information about the suspect vehicle involved in this Hit and Run crash to contact Crime Stoppers at 254- 526- TIPS (8477) or go online at www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com.  You can also give an anonymous tip by downloading the P3tips app for IOS and Android.  All information is confidential and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for this Hit and Run, you could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

The Killeen Police Department Traffic Unit continues to investigate this Hit and Run and the circumstances surrounding it.  Information will be released as it becomes available.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department