Slain vet remembered as ‘a natural leader’
Police still seeking leads in shooting of Army medic who was continuing his professional training at CNM
Within days of 24-year-old Army veteran Tyler Lackey being shot and killed in a parking lot in Southeast Albuquerque, responses from former and current members of the military from around the country started pouring in.
“It’s just terrible that someone who jumps out of airplanes, deploys to Afghanistan, joins the military, and then goes home to try to start a new life only to get shot on the street,” Joshua Nida, a specialist who served with Lackey at Fort Bragg, told the Journal. “It’s a shame that veterans can survive war and come home and then get killed.”
Lackey had returned to his home in Albuquerque a couple months ago after leaving the Army late last year.
Lackey’s mother, Liz Frank, said Monday she wants to remember her son as an Army
medic who served a tour in Afghanistan, as well as a goofball.
“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.”
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.
The news of Lackey’s death spread quickly over the weekend.
The soldiers who served with him in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, where Lackey was a line medic, called each other with information and to share memories.
They remember him as an even-tempered guy who was quick to laugh and slow to anger.
“He was such a good guy,” said Stephen Barlow, who served as a specialist in the division. “He didn’t ever cause any problems. He always seemed like he was going to keep things calm if anyone got riled up.”
Scott Spista, a former specialist with the division, said he met Lackey in 2013 and stayed close to him even after they both were honorably discharged. He said they talked on the phone about two weeks ago and Lackey told him about how he had enrolled in Central New Mexico Community College, where he planned to continue his training in the medical field.
“He already had a plan,” Spista said. “He had a goal. He wanted to be a nurse, and he had talked about that since I met him. He knew exactly what he wanted to do with the freedom that he earned.”
Capt. Andrew Wilhelm, a troop commander in the 82nd Airborne Division, described Lackey as a quiet professional who stayed calm under pressure, was courageous and cared deeply for others.
“He was a natural leader and was known throughout the unit for his understated yet sharp sense of humor,” Wilhelm said. “He will be remembered and missed by all who had the pleasure of serving with him.”
The Army will cover the cost of a military funeral for Lackey by providing a headstone, an honor guard and a flag for his family, a spokesman for Fort Bragg said.
On Saturday, police released pictures of a red and white sedan and a woman they believe were connected to the shooting.
Tixier said detectives have received some tips after the release of the photos but haven’t made any arrests.
“Detectives are also following up on several leads but are still asking the community for any information that might help them solve this case,” he said.