Killeen police spokeswoman Carroll Smith said a patrol officer reported at 8:23 a.m. a car in the parking lot that seemed suspicious, primarily because the store was not scheduled to open until 9 a.m.
When the officer proceeded to investigate the car, Smith said, the officer heard an alarm at the back of the building, found the back door ajar and discovered the women inside the store.
Sheila Reed, 40, of Killeen was found dead and a co-worker, Gricelda P. Ramos, of Killeen, was critically wounded. Ramos, 28, was airlifted to Scott and White Hospital. She was pronounced dead at 10:36 a.m. Both bodies were sent to Dallas for an autopsy.
Smith said officers searched the building, which is in the 4100 block of West Stan Schleuter Loop, and were confident no one else was harmed in the apparent robbery.
“There were some areas of the building we had concerns about,” Smith said. “(Officers) searched every inch of the building just to make sure there was no one else in there possibly affected - or dead.”
As police searched the building, a crowd grew across the street. Some were just curious; others to express grief at the slayings.
Michelle Shaffer and her father, Jerry Hashman, had known Reed for 15 years. When Shaffer heard of the slayings, “I called Sheila’s cell phone to make sure it wasn’t true. When we came down here we found out it was,” Shaffer said sobbing.
“We spent so much time together, she seemed like a daughter,” Hashman said.
Shaffer said Reed had three children, ages 21, 17 and 3.
“Her kids are visiting with her ex-husband in Dallas,” she said.
Mary, a former employee of the Dollar General store who did not want to reveal her last name, said she knew both victims and Ramos was a mother as well.
Mary said she had worked with the two women about a year ago.
“They were fun - you couldn’t have better co-workers than them,” she said. “They were always willing to help you.”
But Mary was surprised to see the numerous police cars at the store’s parking lot as she stopped to pick up a few items.
“You would never expect something like this to happen,” Mary said. “People who have come into this store have always been happy and friendly.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Killeen Police Department at 501-8800, or Crime Stoppers at 526-TIPS.
Harper Scott Clark contributed to this report.
