Man found guilty of 2nd-degree murder in veteran’s death
Attacker at ATM faces up to 23½ years in prison
After days of deliberation, jurors on Monday convicted an Albuquerque man of second-degree murder in the shooting death of an Army veteran during a 2016 attempted robbery, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Matthew Chavez faces up to 23½ years in prison and is set for sentencing in November. He was also found guilty of attempted robbery, tampering with evidence, conspiracy and receiving or transferring a stolen vehicle, Michael Patrick, a spokesman for the DA’s Office, said.
Prosecutors said that Chavez had a bandanna tied over his face when he approached Tyler Lackey, 24, as he withdrew cash from an ATM near Gibson and Yale late one night in February 2016. Lackey, who served in the Army and had a concealed carry permit, pulled a gun and followed Chavez back to the stolen Pontiac he’d been driving.
Chavez’s defense team argued that Lackey was the first to fire, and Chavez killed him in self defense before fleeing. The Pontiac was later found burning in an alley and Chavez was apprehended in Oklahoma.
His then-girlfriend Veronica Trimble, who was with Chavez that night, was not charged in the case and agreed to testify as a state’s witness.
Patrick said attorneys presented their closing arguments on Wednesday and jurors arrived at a verdict around 11 a.m. Monday.
Chavez’s attorney could not be reached for comment.