U.S. Army Sgt. Thomas Lazzaro, 27, of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), died in a hunting accident at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida after a stray bullet struck him while he was driving to help a fellow soldier with car trouble.
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office described the December 22 incident as a “tragic hunting accident.” The hunter involved is cooperating with the investigation.
Eglin Air Force Base, which spans hundreds of square miles, allows public hunting in certain areas under permits.
Lazzaro grew up in Colorado Springs, excelling academically and athletically, and was part of Pine Creek High School’s back-to-back state football championship teams in 2013 and 2014. Before his military service, he was a quarterback at Central Michigan University, where he played for four years.
Lazzaro enlisted in the Army after earning a degree in business, following his father and grandfather’s footsteps. He graduated from the Special Forces Qualification Course as a weapons sergeant and earned the Army Commendation Medal during his service.
Col. Patrick Nelson, commander of the 7th Special Forces Group, said: “We deeply mourn the loss of Sgt. Thomas Lazzaro. His absence leaves a void that will be felt professionally and personally among those who had the honor of working with him.”
Lazzaro is survived by his parents, Thomas and Lisa; his sister, Lexie; and his fiancée, Kaley Lynch. He was laid to rest with full military honors in Fort Walton Beach, Florida on December 28.
