In Loving Memory of
With heavy hearts and deep sorrow, we remember and honor the life of 37-year-old Lacy D. Nelson of Hutchinson, whose life was tragically taken on the evening of February 20, 2026. Her passing has left an unimaginable void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the entire community who now mourn a life ended far too soon.
On Friday night, officers with the Hutchinson Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the 800 block of West 4th Avenue at approximately 8:19 p.m. Upon arrival, they found Lacy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. In those critical moments, officers immediately began rendering first aid, doing everything within their power to preserve her life until Reno County EMS arrived on the scene.
Lacy was rushed to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, where medical professionals fought tirelessly to save her. Despite every effort made, she later succumbed to her injuries. Her passing marked not just the loss of a beloved woman, but the loss of a daughter, a friend, and a member of a community that will forever feel her absence.
As authorities launched an investigation, 49-year-old Curtis E. Richardson was identified as a person of interest, and a statewide BOLO was issued. The following morning, events unfolded further when the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported robbery in Preston. A resident reported that a suspect had forced entry into her home and stolen her vehicle.
A deputy later located the stolen vehicle traveling southbound along K-61 Highway in Pratt County. When law enforcement attempted a traffic stop, the driver allegedly refused to stop, resulting in a pursuit that ultimately ended when the vehicle left the roadway and became stuck in a field near NE 30th Avenue and NE 20th Street.
While the investigation continues and justice moves forward, today we pause not to focus solely on the tragedy, but to remember Lacy herself.
Lacy D. Nelson was more than a headline. She was a woman with a story, with dreams, with people who loved her deeply. She was someone’s source of laughter, someone’s safe place, someone’s cherished memory. Those who knew her remember her presence — the warmth she brought into rooms, the conversations she shared, and the simple everyday moments that now feel so precious.
Her loss reminds us how fragile life can be and how quickly everything can change. It reminds us to hold our loved ones a little closer, to speak words of kindness more freely, and to never take a single day for granted.
To her family, we extend our deepest condolences. No words can truly ease the pain of losing someone so suddenly and so violently. May you find strength in one another, comfort in cherished memories, and peace in knowing that Lacy’s life mattered — and will always matter.
To the Hutchinson community, may we stand together in unity, supporting one another in grief and in hope. May justice be served, and may healing, though slow, eventually find its way into broken hearts.
Lacy’s life, though cut short, leaves behind a legacy of love. Her memory will live on in every story shared, every tear shed, and every moment we choose compassion over anger.
Rest peacefully, Lacy D. Nelson.
You are remembered.
You are mourned.
You are forever loved. 💔
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