-148

Marine Murdered Defending His Wife In French Quarter

215 Comments

Sgt. Ryan Lekosky

NEW ORLEANS – A Marine from Texas survived combat in Iraq only to be murdered in the French Quarter — stabbed to death even as he wore his dress-blue uniform complete with battle commendations pinned to his chest.

Sgt. Ryan Lekosky and his wife were wrapping up an evening celebrating the service’s 235th birthday at a formal ball at the New Orleans Marriott on Canal Street.

“To know you survived some of the deadliest areas of the world … to come home and be killed stateside,” said Capt. Kate Vanden Bossche, a Louisiana spokeswoman for the Marine Corps.

Authorities said Monday they were hunting for a suspect and searching for recordings from surveillance cameras that may have captured the confrontation.

New Orleans police said a preliminary investigation indicates that at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday, the 23-year-old Lekosky and his wife were walking along Dauphine Street in the Quarter.

A man allegedly pulled alongside the couple and began shouting inappropriate comments at Lekosky’s wife. She and the heckler launched into some sort of a physical confrontation that Lekosky tried to stop.

“(Lekosky) sustained several stab wounds while trying to break up the fight,” according to the statement released by police.

Officers would not take questions about the stabbing. It is unclear how many people were in the car or exactly what triggered the violence.

Lekosky was assigned to an air station in Louisiana but was born and raised in Corpus Christi.

He was a high school quarterback there, according to his family, and decided not to attend college, joining the service in 2005.

“He fought for our country and came back safe from that,” said his younger sister, Danika Lekosky, who wondered aloud how anyone could attack a service member, especially during a time of war.

She said that he was supposed to have again deployed in November to Afghanistan, but his orders changed.

Lekosky and his wife married quietly a few months ago.

As a result, most family members, including Lekosky’s parents, will meet her for the first time only now, as a military funeral is planned for Corpus Christi, she said.

She said her brother was changed by his military service, and confided that wherever he was, even back in the United States, he felt he had to be constantly on guard to threats around him.

“It was almost like he knew that someday something tragic would happen to him,” she said.

Flag as inappropriate

-148

Anonymous

over 2 years ago

Semper Fi Sergeant, you are in God's eternal Marine Corps now in Heaven.
@DFG1001. You need to understand that you were not there at the scene. We do not know what the heckler was saying, for all we know she was being threatened and or felt threatened and had to defend herself. For all we know the heckler may have got out of the vehicle in an aggressive manor towards her and it ended up in a physical confrontation. It could been a number of factors. I find that your comment was not well thought out, and frankly uncalled for.You are making judgments about a situation in which you only have very limited facts. If you wish to be found credible on this website and appreciate the interaction with other fellow brothers and sister, as you say you appreciate, you need to slow your roll, and be careful what you say or who you accuse because no on will want to associate with you at all.

Instead of accosting the wife why don't you show sympathy for her having to see her loved one murdered. It is the most difficult thing having to see someone especially one you loved die right before you or even in your arms.
MACK2014

over 2 years ago

166 Comments

I'M SURE THIS SCUM WOULD TRY THIS WITH A L.E.O. IF GIVEN THE CHANCE....R.I.P. SOLDIER
Deputy522

over 2 years ago

76 Comments

Rest in Peace young Sgt. You have earned it. I pray God brings your family comfort and he also brings the cowards to us...
jakester

over 2 years ago

1148 Comments

Chivalry and standing up for what is right is not dead. Though he has fallen for right his spirit lives on to inspire others.
CynthiaMagdaleno

over 2 years ago

1124 Comments

Sad story - I pray they find the people who did this and they pay for their crime. I pray God comforts his family and friends through this difficult time.
Redlight

over 2 years ago

1264 Comments

Tears are in my eyes brother! RIP, guard the gates, we have your watch down here.
Anonymous

over 2 years ago

This country has no respect for its Veterans....none.
BARBQ1

over 2 years ago

2 Comments

RIP SGT.HOPE THEY GET THE COWARD SOON.NOW MAYBE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL START SEEING NEW ORLEANS FOR WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE CONTROL THE STREETS OF THAT CITY.
Stirlitz_US

over 2 years ago

136 Comments

When you guys get the scum bag(s) please bring them to Quantico or Camp Le Jeune... Just drop'em there.
What a tragedy. R.I.P. Brother. Semper Fi! God bless your soul.
brooklynsergeant

over 2 years ago

4396 Comments

A true example of the words Semper Fi, Rest In Peace Sergeant Lekosky, Report to Saint Peter, you have served your time in Hell.
mhare

over 2 years ago

424 Comments

RIP Sgt. Lekosky... you were a true hero. Whomever the coward is who A) felt that it was appropriate to heckle a woman at all, let alone one walking with a Marine in full dress uniform and B) felt that stabbing a Marine in full dress uniform over an argument with said young woman had better turn himself into the police soon... before Sgt. Lekosky's friends find him.
Robocop33

over 2 years ago

14344 Comments

Hey dfg 1001, she was heckled by a group in a vehicle that chose to disrespect her and when she fired back, or maybe when her husband fired back the people in the vehicle got out and came after and attacked her. DO NOT try to make it the fault of this Marines wife! Apologize!
Robocop33

over 2 years ago

14344 Comments

Well hell! Now I am torn between the two differant punishments, Send the POS to a Marine Brig for life or nail his sorry a$$ to a cypress stump out in the swamp after rubbing chicken grease all over him. Both punishments are very fitting IMHO.
Anonymous

over 2 years ago

If I read correctly ..What the hell was this woman doing fighting in the streets... I know her honor was being disrespected but fighting in the streets? And getting your husband killed ....God Bless Sgt.Lekosky and His family
JMichaelSven

over 2 years ago

246 Comments

May you rest in peace Sgt Ryan Lekosky , You died bravely, and you died the way the way you lived; defending those whom you loved. He was always faithful till the end, A TRUE MARINE and A TRUE HERO!!! They better get the trash that did this him to soon; the worst is too good for them!!! My condolences to his wife and family, I am sorry for your great loss!!! You are in my thoughts and prayers!!!