CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Father of former John Tyler HS student speaks about daughter's death

Father of former John Tyler HS student speaks about daughter's death

TYLER, TX (KYTX) - Tyler Jefferson had one week left of training in Pensacola before becoming an air traffic controller in the Navy, but her career was cut short Thursday night. Based on what her father got from the Pensacola police, he believes it was a random act of violence, an act of violence that has torn him apart.

"All night I was up, I just couldn't sleep," said Tyrus Jefferson. He didn't find out until Friday that his daughter Tyler had been shot and killed, but he felt something was wrong. His suspicions were confirmed.

"I said what? She said, she's dead," said Tyrus.

Tyler was going to become an air traffic controller in the Navy. She left in June for training in Shreveport, and finally the naval base Corry Station in West Pensacola where her training would be completed in one week. Her father says she had simple aspirations.

"She always just wanted to be loved and she wanted to see the world. That's about it. She was real simple but big dreams," he said.

Dreams that will never be realized. Police said Tyler was jogging near the base and a car pulled up. They suspect it began as a robbery, but resulted in a shooting.

"They shot her in the head and the stomach two times," her father added.

Police said a nearby homeowner found Tyler dead face down on the ground clutching her military ID, but Tyrus still doesn't have all the answers. The shooter hasn't been caught yet, and Tyrus said he's not getting much help.

"I've been calling the sheriff's department down there and nobody returned my phone calls," he explained.

Frustration on top of despair. Tyrus said his daughter's death has left him with an emptiness.

"It's, I'm never going to recover. All I can do is try to fill that void with love and memories," he said.

Tyrus said his family will be making funeral arrangements Monday. He believes the military will be conducting an investigation as well.