Case of man charged with killing vet advances
Suspect in February slaying at ATM has been transferred to NM from Oklahoma
The case against a man accused of shooting an Army veteran to death after an attempted robbery is finally moving forward following his transfer to New Mexico from another state’s custody, according to a spokesman for the District Attorney’s Office.
Matthew Chavez, 27, was first charged in the shooting death of Tyler Lackey, 24, in February 2016, but he was not indicted in the case until August of this year. Chavez was in court Wednesday as prosecutors asked a judge to keep him in New Mexico until his case is resolved, DA’s Office spokesman Michael Patrick said. Chavez is serving time in Oklahoma for unrelated crimes.
Witnesses told police that Lackey was at an ATM near Gibson and Yale when a car pulled behind his truck. A man with a bandanna tied around his face got out of the car and attempted to rob Lackey, but Lackey pulled out a gun. Police said the man got back into his car and said he was “just playing.” Lackey told him to get out of the car to wait for police, but the man instead drove away and fired multiple shots, hitting Lackey in the chest, according to court documents.
About an hour later, the stolen car involved in the crime was found burning in a southeast Albuquerque alley, police said.
Shortly after releasing surveillance images, detectives said they determined that Chavez was the shooter and that Veronica Trimble was in the car with him. Trimble was initially accused of crimes surrounding Lackey’s death, but prosecutors dismissed the case against her in October 2016 due to insufficient evidence.
Chavez faces charges, including first-degree murder, armed robbery and conspiracy.