Week in review: Soldier death, Austin slaying, Anthem Park and more | Local News

Fort Hood was rocked by the death of another soldier

A national organization is calling for the FBI to be involved in the investigation into the death of a soldier at Fort Hood.

Ana Basaldua Ruiz, 20, a combat engineer who served with the 1st Cavalry Division for the past 15 months, died Monday, according to Fort Hood officials. The Army Criminal Investigation Division and the chain of command are investigating her death. Fort Hood officials said foul play is not suspected.

Postal officials are not saying how or where she was found dead.

Members of the League of United Latin American Citizens held a press conference outside Fort Hood Friday morning.

David Cruz, LULAC’s national communications director, said Fort Hood’s announcement that no foul play was involved indicated the post is “tone deaf” because her family told a Hispanic news network that she had complained of harassment sexual.

III Corps and Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe held a news conference Friday evening to update the media on the ongoing investigation.

Bernabe said battalion leadership immediately contacted Basaldua Ruiz’s mother and father after she died and had been in constant communication with them to offer condolences and offers of help.

He said he would not comment on the nature of Basaldua Ruiz’s death because it is still under investigation.

Killeen teenager charged with capital murder in the slayings of two Jarrell High School students

A Killeen teenager faces a capital murder charge in connection with the Jan. 28 shooting in North Austin that killed two Jarrell High School students.

Christijan Deshaun Stevens, 19, was arrested in Killeen on Wednesday by officers of the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, the Killeen Police Department and the US Marshals Task Force.

The other victims, now six in total, were injured in the shooting that happened around 10:17 p.m. at the Moon Palace Hookah Lounge, 12646 Research Boulevard in North Austin, Austin police officials said Monday.

Brayden Bolyard, a 17-year-old Jarrell ISD student, died at the scene despite life-saving measures. Four other people were transported to local hospitals.

On Feb. 1, Jaitron Tatum, another Jarrell ISD student, died of his injuries, the Austin Police Department said.

Killeen council members OK zoning change for proposed Anthem Park

In a unanimous vote last week, Killeen City Council members approved the rezoning of more than 200 acres where a proposed mixed-use development will be built.

Mayor Pro Tem Ken Wilkerson said the planned project is a “huge opportunity” for the city.

Killeen officials and potential developers have been talking about such a project for more than a decade. Construction of Anthem Park, located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, could be completed within three years.

Killeen is arrested, charged with murder; suspect in the Harker Heights murder

Harker Heights police arrested a 23-year-old Killeen man on suspicion of his involvement in the death of Taurus Berkhart Stubbs.

Tre Jean Smith, 23, of Killeen, was charged with murder and arraigned by Bell County Justice of the Peace Nicola J. James last week. His bond was set at $1 million.

Stubbs was shot multiple times at a sports bar in the early morning hours of March 9, police said. He died at Seton Medical Center.

Nolanville fires signal future development

Travelers on Interstate 14 in Nolanville Thursday morning may have noticed about 10 large piles of brush on fire.

The fires are part of an effort to clear land along the interstate that will one day be developed, officials said.

The burned piles are on private property owned by the Haun family, Nolanville City Manager Kara Escajeda said.

The top 10 most read stories on kdhnews.com from March 12-18 were:

3) “Killeen man sentenced to life in Temple child’s fatal shooting” – https://bit.ly/3bnv1ck

4) “Police reports: Kidnapping: multiple drug reports taken Saturday in Killeen” – https://bit.ly/3JPYXQn

5) “Killeen teenager charged with capital murder in killing of two Jarrell High School students” – http://bit.ly/3TnPkM1

7) “Killeen-Fort Hood area banks assure residents their money is safe amid 2 national shutdowns” — http://bit.ly/3YWZWT1

9) “Fort Hood soldier’s death sparks Guillen’s memories; ‘No Foul Play,’ Army Investigators Say” – http://bit.ly/3ZYUTTE