On the afternoon of January 2, 2025, 28-year-old Latina woman Jazmien Rae-Lynn Hernandez tragically lost her life in a shooting outside the Best Western Plus hotel on Cunningham Road in Killeen, Texas. At approximately 1:18 p.m., Killeen police responded to multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire at the hotel. Upon arrival, officers discovered both a woman and a man suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite immediate life-saving efforts, Jazmien Rae-Lynn Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:05 p.m. by Justice of the Peace Cliff Coleman.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 34-year-old man, identified as Lemont Diante McKinney, was engaged in a verbal altercation with a 32-year-old man outside the hotel. During the exchange, both individuals fired shots, resulting in injuries to each other and to Jazmien Rae-Lynn Hernandez. The 32-year-old man fled the scene on foot but later arrived at a hospital with gunshot wounds. Both men were hospitalized in stable condition.
Following a thorough investigation, detectives from the Robbery-Homicide Unit presented their findings to the Bell County District Attorney’s Office. As a result, two complaints were filed, leading to arrest warrants for Murder and Aggravated Assault against Lemont Diante McKinney. At the time, McKinney was already in custody at the Bell County Jail on unrelated charges. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Cliff Coleman, who set his total bond at $1,200,000.
Jazmien Rae-Lynn Hernandez, born on August 6, 1996, in Kittitas, Washington, spent most of her life in Killeen, Texas. She was known for her radiant smile, infectious laughter, and deep love for her family and friends. Jazmien was a devoted mother to her two daughters, Sophia, 6, and Malani, 4. She is survived by her parents, Misty Cortes Hernandez and John Albert Hernandez; her siblings Alejandro, Elijah, Jordan, Eric, and Lisa; her grandparents Margarita Talamantez, Carolyn Luna, and Eleazar Talamantez; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends.
Her untimely death has left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and loved her. Jazmien's legacy lives on through the cherished memories shared by her family and friends, who remember her as a beacon of joy and compassion.
