Shooting victim was looking for land

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

RAMAH — New Mexico State Police continue to investigate the shooting death of Kip Mackey, whose body was found near Ramah Jan. 3.

Mackey suffered a single gunshot to the back of the head, said Lt. Chris Martinez of the investigative branch of the NMSP, and was found by a motorist beside New Mexico Highway 53 nearly two weeks ago.

State police spokesman Lt. Eric Garcia Tuesday corrected Mackey’s name, previously reported as Kit MacKey, and department cannot release more information yet. The shooting is being handled by criminal investigators.

Speaking from North Carolina, Mackey’s cousin Ryan Mackey said the dead man was not a resident of Ramah, as previously reported, but was looking into buying property in the area and moving to the village. According to the North Carolina cousin, Mackey lived in Albuquerque and had moved to New Mexico from New Jersey several years ago.

Mackey, a former Marine who served in Desert Storm, was originally from Iowa, his cousin said. He left the Corps about 10 years ago at age 28 and lived in several places in the United States before deciding to make a move to the small mountain community.

“He was like my brother when we were growing up,” Ryan Mackey said. He said he was distressed by his cousin’s death and the circumstances.

Ryan said Mackey was unmarried, but had a fiancee, his cousin stated.

Anyone with information should contact the New Mexico State Police, (505) 287-4141 or (505) 863-9353.