BELTON, Texas – A Belton man has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly stabbing another man to death near the city limits on Friday evening. The Bell County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jody Christopher Cool, who is currently being held in the Bell County Jail on a $1 million bond.
The incident occurred on January 17, 2025, at approximately 9:07 pm, when the Bell County Communications Center received a 911 call reporting a stabbing in the 3300 block of Briana Drive, located west of Belton. When authorities arrived at the scene, they found 32-year-old Justin Charles Thomas of Killeen suffering from a stab wound in the roadway. Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene by a Justice of the Peace, who also ordered an autopsy to be performed at the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Investigators from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, led by Captain Jess Ramos, responded to the scene and quickly located a suspect. The suspect, later identified as Cool, was detained by deputies and Belton police officers. Following a preliminary investigation and an interview with Cool, investigators determined there was probable cause to arrest him for murder.
In a statement, the Bell County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that there is no longer any danger to the public in connection with the incident. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim,” the Sheriff’s Office said in the release. “This is an active investigation, and further details will be provided as they become available.”
The victim’s family has been notified, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not yet disclosed the motive for the stabbing.
