Killeen Police investigate a late night crash on Interstate Highway 14.

Officers responded to IH-14 at 9:14 p.m. on Sunday, September 17, 2017 after receiving a 911 call telling them of a rollover crash.  Upon the officers’ arrival they located a red Nissan Pathfinder on its left side.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the Pathfinder was traveling eastbound on IH-14 at a high rate of speed, struck a silver Hyundai sedan and the driver lost control of the vehicle.   As he lost control, he struck the concrete center divider, causing the SUV to rollover and land on its left side. The driver was transported to Seton Medical Center Harker Heights and subsequently airlifted to Baylor Scott and White in critical condition. The driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.  The occupants of the Hyundai reported no injuries.

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

Killeen Police were dispatched to the Star Mart Convenience Store located at 4002 Watercrest Road on Saturday, June 24, 2017, at approximately 11:53 a.m., after receiving a 911 call in reference to a stolen vehicle.  The victim told officers that he went into the store and upon exiting he noticed his car, a white Nissan Altima was stolen.  The vehicle was recovered unoccupied later that afternoon by patrol officers.

Through the investigation, detectives with the Special Investigations Division, Burglary Unit, obtained surveillance video and are looking for the suspect in this photo.

Detectives are asking if you can identify this suspect or has information 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 and Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information is anonymous and confidential and if your tip leads to the arrest of the suspect(s), you could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Officers were dispatched to the 2900 block of Cantabrian Drive on Monday, September 11, 2017, at approximately 10:43 p.m. after receiving a 911 call about shots fired.  Upon the officers’ arrival they located a black male lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound.  Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown pronounced the victim, 20 year-old Taron Marquise Tillman-Ratliff of Killeen, deceased at 11:59 p.m. and ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this Homicide, 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 and Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information given is anonymous and confidential, and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person responsible for this Homicide, you could be eligible for reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Officers responded to the 3700 block of Charolais Drive in reference to a Criminal Mischief on Sunday, September 3, 2017, at 8:47 p.m.  Upon the officer’s arrival, the victim told him the windows to their apartment had been shot out.  While on scene, the officer heard a shot fired from what he believed to be a high-powered pellet rifle and the sound of the projectile impacting nearby.  The officer immediately grabbed the victim and moved them inside the residence for safety.  The officer immediately radioed for assistance and then heard a second shot fired towards him.  He maintained a position of cover and directed other officers to the suspect, who had been firing from an open window of a nearby residence. The 16 year-old juvenile suspect was taken into custody without incident and was transported to the Bell County Juvenile Detention Center.  There were no reported injuries reported as a result of this incident.  

The name of the suspect will not be released since he is a juvenile.

Ofelia Miramontez

Public Affairs

Killeen Police Department

Detectives were able to determine the identity of the robbery suspect in this case.  The case was reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and a complaint was issued charging 22 year-old Austin Lamar Shelfer with Robbery and Justice of the Peace Claudia Brown issued a warrant for his arrest.  On Friday, September 01, 2017, Officers subsequently located and arrested Shelfer without incident.  He was transported and booked into the Killeen City Jail.

Killeen Police investigate afternoon bank robbery on Sunny Lane.

Officers responded to 2208 Sunny Lane, at 3:12 p.m., after receiving a 911 call letting them know the Texell Credit Union had just been robbed.  Officers were advised a male entered the bank and demanded money.  The suspect fled eastbound on foot from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male with a stocky build, approximately 5’5” tall with blonde hair, blue eyes and a full beard.  He was last seen wearing a ball cap, a dark hoodie and jeans.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this Bank Robbery or can identify the suspect, 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 responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police investigate afternoon bank robbery on Sunny Lane.

Officers responded to 2208 Sunny Lane, at 3:12 p.m., after receiving a 911 call letting them know the Texell Credit Union had just been robbed.  Officers were advised a male entered the bank and demanded money.  The suspect fled eastbound on foot from the bank with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male with a stocky build, approximately 5’5” tall with blonde hair, blue eyes and a full beard.  He was last seen wearing a ball cap, a dark hoodie and jeans.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this Bank Robbery or can identify the suspect, 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 responsible, you could be eligible to receive a reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police Focusing on Extra Patrols this Labor Day Holiday.

The Killeen Police Department will have extra patrols starting on Friday, September 1, 2017, throughout the Labor Day weekend focusing on impaired drivers.  The extra patrols are a result of the department’s participation in a Texas Department of Transportation funded grant known as the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP).   Officers working with the STEP program will focus on locating and arresting impaired or intoxicated drivers who are presenting a hazardous risk.  It is the goal of this program to prevent potential injuries and loss of life to local drivers and travelers.

If you see a driver you believe to be impaired or driving recklessly, please call 911 with the vehicle’s description, direction of travel and license plate number, if possible.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

The Killeen Police Department would like to remind all motorists about the new school year.

With a new school year in session, motorists will be seeing more children walking to and from school.  The Killeen Police Department is asking all motorists to be mindful of the extra pedestrians and the school zones will be in effect and will be enforced.

Remember the speed limits will be decreased in a designated school zone; the majority of school zones begin at 6:30.a.m and are usually 20 mph.  Children are known to dart out into the roadway and it is asked that you give extra attention when driving.  Talking on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle within a designated school zone, unless the vehicle is stopped or the device is used with a hands free device or to make an emergency call is against the law.

School buses will be active in the city before and after school hours.  When a school bus is stopped with red lights flashing, you must stop. Vehicles traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway do not have to stop.

Effective September 1, 2017, it is against the law to use of a wireless communication device to view, send or compose an electronic message or engage other application software while operating a motor vehicle.

Drive safely and do not text and drive.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police investigate a shooting on Mattie Drive

Killeen Police responded to a 911 call in reference to a shooting victim in the 4400 block of Mattie Drive on Monday, August 21, 2017.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located female victim with a gunshot wound. She was immediately transported to Metroplex Hospital in stable condition and subsequently transported to Baylor Scott & White Hospital.  It was later determined that there was a second gunshot victim, a male who was transported to Metroplex Hospital in stable condition.

The preliminary investigation revealed that there was a group of people in the parking lot and were involved in a verbal disturbance when shots were fired.  Through the investigation detectives were able to determine the identity of the suspect in this case.  The case was reviewed by the Bell County District Attorney’s Office and two complaints were issued charging 20 year-old Derrick Lamont Smith Jr. with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke issued two warrants for his arrest.  On Thursday, August 24, 2017, Officers subsequently located and arrested him at 309 Priest Drive.  Smith was transported and booked into the Killeen City Jail.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department

Killeen Police investigate a Murder on Allegany Drive.

Officers were dispatched to a 911 call in reference to a shooting victim in the 5300 block of Allegany Drive on Friday, August 25, 2017, at 4:41 a.m.  Upon the officers’ arrival, they located a black male inside the residence with a gunshot wound.  He was immediately transported to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in critical condition.

The preliminary investigation revealed that an unknown vehicle drove by the residence and fired several shots into the home, striking the victim.  Family members immediately called 911 advising them the victim had been shot.  No other injuries were reported.

The victim, 34 year-old Glenroy Joseph Smith Jr., succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by Justice of the Peace Bill Cooke at 6:49 a.m.  An autopsy has been ordered to be performed at the Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas.

Detectives are asking anyone who 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 and Android and give an anonymous tip.  All information given is anonymous and confidential, and if your tip leads to the arrest of the person responsible for this Murder, you could be eligible for reward up to $1,000 in cash.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department