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29-year-old man charged with murder after allegedly selling fentanyl-laced pills to man who overdosed in Belton

According to the City of Belton, this is the first case in Bell County that is following a new murder statute pertaining to fentanyl deaths.

BELTON, Texas — U.S. Marshals arrested 29-year-old Shane Antwan Dominick for the murder of a man who overdosed on fentanyl pills that were allegedly sold to him by Dominick. 

According to the City of Belton, on Oct. 20, 2023, Belton officers responded to a CPR in progress call in the 200 block of W 14th Street. When officers arrived, they found 20-year-old Richard Willess unconscious and not breathing. 

Belton PD says officers performed life-saving measures until Belton Fire and EMS arrived and took Willess to Baylor Scott & White in Temple, where he later died. 

Following an autopsy at the Southwest Institute of Forensic Science, Willess' cause of death was determined to be a fentanyl overdose. 

According to police, detectives were able to identify Dominick as the one who sold fentanyl pills to Willess. Dominick was arrested on Nov. 17, 2023 in Harker Heights. Police say at the time of his arrest, Dominick was in possession of over 50 grams of fentanyl and he later admitted to selling the pills to Willess. 

On Monday, April 1, 2024, US Marshals arrested Dominick, who was out on bond, on a murder warrant for the death of Willess. 

This murder charge came after the implementation of a new murder statute pertaining to fentanyl deaths. This new statute allows law enforcement to charge drug dealers with murder if they sell fentanyl to someone who later dies because of it.

To view the full news release, visit here.  

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