It is with great sadness that the Killeen Fire Department announces the unfortunate and sudden passing of active-duty member, Captain Marvin Taylor III.
Captain Taylor began his service with the department on July 7, 2014. He was promoted to the rank of Fire Captain on July 12, 2024, and most recently assigned to the Training Division as the Operations Training Captain. He held numerous fire certifications including Swift Water Boat Operator, Advanced Structural Firefighter, Fire Officer 1, and most recently obtaining TCFP Field Examiner. Marvin was also a member of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Water Rescue Team, Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System (TIFMAS) Wildland Team. He deployed many times with both teams to various large-scale incidents both in state and outside on Texas.
On Sunday, May 11, 2025, at approximately 1:05 a.m., Captain Taylor was off-duty and had just left an Austin hospital after the birth of his fifth child. While traveling to pick up his other children and bring them back to the hospital to meet their new sibling, his vehicle was stuck from the rear by another vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Captain Taylor was the only occupant in his vehicle. An Austin Police unit was next to his vehicle at the time of the collision and was able to render aid immediately until fire and EMS units arrived on scene. Unfortunately, Captain Taylor succumbed to his injuries at the scene of the incident. The driver of the vehicle that struck Captain Taylor’s vehicle was taken into custody by the Austin Police Department.
Captain Taylor’s immediate family and Killeen Fire Department family are still processing this tragic loss. We ask that all respect the family’s privacy as they navigate this challenging time. Updates regarding visitation and funeral services, as well as other ways to help the family will be communicated through a future press release. Tremendous support has already been provided by the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department, Austin-Travis County EMS Department, Travis County Star Flight, and the Travis County Medical Examiners Office. Members of the Killeen Fire Department are currently “standing watch” over Captain Taylor and will remain by his side until funeral services are complete. Captain Taylor will be brought back to the area by Fire and EMS personnel once he is released from the Medical Examiner’s Office.
No other information will be available at this time.
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