NORTH ANDOVER — A former Water Street woman serving in the Navy was killed by a fellow sailor in a military housing complex in Newport News, Va., police said.
Caitlin Trask, 21, a 2006 North Andover High School graduate, was shot in the head by her estranged boyfriend, Darren Mackie, on Thursday afternoon, police said.
Reached at her Haverhill home last night, Mary Trask, Caitlin's mother, confirmed her daughter's death. But she declined further comment, saying funeral arrangements will be published in the newspaper soon.
The Eagle-Tribune interviewed Caitlin about her military plans just before she graduated from high school. She described herself as organized and motivated. Although Trask was accepted to the University of Massachusetts and Suffolk University, she saw her future in the Navy, where she banked on becoming more focused and confident.
"I don't think I would be prouder to do any other job," Trask said in May 2006.
The motive for killing her remains under investigation, according to police in Newport News. Mackie, who was charged with murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, is being held in the Newport News jail.
On Thursday at 3 p.m., police went to Mackie's military apartment after receiving a report of shots fired. Trask died before emergency crews arrived, police said.
Mackie, a Wisconsin native, posted photos of himself with Trask on his MySpace Web site.
Mackie, an airman, is stationed aboard the USS Kearsarge, while Trask, a petty officer, was assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, police said.
During the 2006 interview, Trask said she was proud to be the only member of her graduating class to enlist in the military. Trask also said she realized, as a woman, she would be a minority in the Navy. That motivated her even more, she said.
"I can do all the physical stuff, I just have to do it 10 times as good as the guys," she said.
Trask wanted to be trained in the tracking of missiles and ships using computers.
Her death was the first homicide in Newport News this year.
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Police Report
