Father of 6 killed by Alaska officer – Lucky Adams shot during traffic stop
A father of six, and an accomplished local artist, has been shot dead by police in Fairbanks, Alaska, after the officer said the suspected serial thief pulled a gun on him.
The fatally wounded man, Lucky R. Adams, 37, died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, the rounds fired from a 9mm handgun wielded by Fairbanks patrolman Kurt Lockwood, 36.
‘He was a good man and good father,’ said his sister-in-law, Amy Osborn of McMinnville. ‘He had his bad side just like anybody.’
His bad side, say police in Fairbanks, was a rash of thefts at area businesses, one of which included the gun he reportedly drew on officer Lockwood. Police also say he had a criminal record, including an earlier arrest for battery of his wife, Tammy Adams, who returned to McMinnville almost two years ago with the couple’s children.
‘He stayed up there after we came back,’ Tammy said. ‘I guess he must have gotten in a bad way since then.’
Police believe Mr. Adams may have been on drugs when the fatal confrontation occurred.
According to police reports there, officer Lockwood pulled over the van Adams was driving. It was during the stop an altercation occurred, prompting the officer to hit Adams with a taser. However, Adams was able to pull out one of the taser probes, rendering the shocking device useless.
It was at that point, Adams pulled a gun and was shot. It was later determined the gun was not loaded. It was also determined the shooting was the second shooting incident for Lockwood, who fired at another man he said tried to run him down in a vehicle eight years ago.
While believing Adams may have been involved in crime and drugs, his widow says it was not like her husband of 14 years to carry, or even possess, a gun. A witness who was riding in the van with Adams reportedly supports the officer’s story.
With the loss, Mrs. Adams is now having to raise the couple’s six children without any support from her husband.
‘Right now we’re struggling just to come up with the $700 to have his funeral,’ Tammy said. ‘While it may not sound like a lot, it’s hard to come up with even that kind of money when you’re trying to raise six children without a husband.’
Along with working construction both here and in Alaska, Mr. Adams may best be remembered here for his art work and his painting of the mural on the wall of Gondola restaurant.
Donations to help with Mr. Adams’ funeral expenses may be made at Homeland Bank in care of Tammy Adams.