Update: 35-year-old Cecil Tamez Jr. was arrested Monday, June 2, after they located him in the 300 block of Cartwright Drive.
Officers say Tamez tried to hide by burying himself in dirt beneath the home, but it didn’t work—he was taken into custody and brought to the Killeen City Jail.
Justice of the Peace Larry Wilkey later charged Tamez with murder and set his bond at $1 million. He has since been transferred to the Bell County Jail.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A search is underway Thursday for the suspect in a May 21, 2025, murder investigation in Killeen.
Officers with the Killeen Police Department responded to an argument between Ondarien Jamall Kelly and Cecil Tamez Jr.. on Wednesday around 5:30 p.m. on Sunset Street. Police say they found Kelly with a stab wound, and the 28-year-old later died from his injuries.
During the investigation, police learned Kelly and Tamez knew each other, and during a verbal disagreement, officers say Tamez grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Kelly before leaving the scene.
Tamez is charged with murder, and a judge has issued a warrant for his arrest.
If anyone has information on the whereabouts of Tamez, call the Killeen Police Department at (254) 501-8830 or contact the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477).
