Blake Hall
A young United States Army veteran who just returned home to be with his mother and family after serving in Afghanistan was shot and killed in a parking lot in Southeast Albuquerque, New Mexico Friday night.
The killer and those involved are still at large.
The slain, Tyler Lackey, once an Army medic who was working toward a career as a nurse, was only 24 years old.
This from the Albuquerque Journal:
Around 10 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to Gibson and Yale SE in response to shots being fired during an argument between two men, said officer Tanner Tixier, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department.
Lackey was shot at least once and died at the scene, Tixier said. His body was lying near an ATM and a gun was found next to him.
Tixier said they are still trying to determine what led to the shooting.
“At this time, detectives are still trying to determine if this was an attempted robbery or the result of another type of altercation,” he said.
Since the senseless tragedy there’s been an outpouring of support from those in the military, the local community and other sympathetic Americans from around the country who were both touched and angered by Lackey’s story.
The Army vet’s mother wants people to remember him as not only a proud military member, but as a fun-loving “goofball” too.
“He’s my son,” she said. “I would have loved him no matter what, but he was a hero to a lot of other people, too, not just me.”
Lackey served in the 82nd Airborne Division based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Fellow paratroopers and soldiers alike also voiced their somber feelings about the untimely passing of the young man.
“He was such a good guy,” said Stephen Barlow. “He didn’t ever cause any problems. He always seemed like he was going to keep things calm if anyone got riled up.”
“He was a natural leader and was known throughout the unit for his understated yet sharp sense of humor,” Captain Andrew Wilhelm, troop commander for the 82nd, said. “He will be remembered and missed by all who had the pleasure of serving with him.”
The Army has already announced that they will cover the cost of the military funeral.
No arrests have yet been made, but local New Mexico authorities released a couple of photos to the public in hopes that they might deliver tips that will lead to catching those responsible.
Here they are in one — a red and white sedan and woman thought to be connected to the shooting:
UPDATE: Local police has released yet another photograph from the murder in hopes that it may lead to the capture of Lackey’s killer(s).
This from the KRQE News 13:
The newest picture released Thursday shows a man wearing something over his face and a hoodie and hat at the ATM, standing behind Lackey.
Wells Fargo Bank is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the identification, apprehension and prosecution of these offenders.
This is the latest photograph:
If you have any information please contact Albuquerque police at (505 )768-2200.