NM first responders remember fire lieutenant who died from COVID-19 at age 35 Share Updated: 9:45 PM MST Feb 26, 2021 Share Updated: 9:45 PM MST Feb 26, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript WERE IN THE STATE’S CURRENT PRIORITY GROUP. A SECOND SHOT EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME LOCATION IN ABOUT THREE WEEKS. TONIGHT, FIRST RESPONDERS STATEWIDE ARE REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF A FIRE LIEUTENANT WHO DIED FROM COVID-19 AT JUST FIVE YEARS OLD. SHELLY: IT IS THE FIRST LINE OF DUTY, COVID RELATED DEATH FOR THE SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT. ACTION 7 NEWS ANCHOR KALYN NORWOOD JOINS US LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE. KALY THE PROCESSION BECAME HERE, AT THE RIVERSIDE FUNERAL HOME, AND WENT ALL OF THE WAY TO HIS HOME OUTSIDE OF LAS CRUCES. THE CHIEF WHO WORKED WITH HIM CALLING, THE SUPPORT OVERWHELMING. A FLAG FLOWN HIGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON OVER THIS ALBUQUERQUE OVERPASS TO REMEMBER A FALLEN FIREFIGHTER. >> THAT IS OUR MAIN PRIORITY. HE HAS NOT BEEN HOME SINCE DECEMBER. KALYN: HE WAS WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR 13 YEARS. >> HE ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. THAT IS JUST HIM. KALYN: JAMES HERRERA IS THE DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF AT THE DEPARTMENT AND SAID HE’D WORKED CLOSELY WITH VASQUEZ SINCE HE WAS A ROOKIE. AND VASQUEZ’S PASSING ONLY MADE TOUGHER, BECAUSE THEY BOTH GOT COVID AT THE SAME TIME. >> THERE IS A LOT OF RESENTMENT ON MY PART. I FEEL LIKE, WHY COULD IT NOT HAVE BEEN ME? KALYN: HE HAD COMPLICATIONS LAST MONTH, LEAVING BEHIND A WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND ANOTHER CHILD ON THE WAY, SO FIRE DEPARTMENTS FRIDAY, FROM LAS CRUCES TO ALBUQUERQUE TO BERNALILLO COUNTY TO RIO RANCHO, IL MESS AND STATE POLICE, THEY CAME TOGETHER TO HONOR HIM. >> -- EMS AND STATE POLICE, THEY CAME TO HONOR HIM. >> WE ARE STILL SO HEARTBROKEN, BECAUSE WE WERE NOT EXPECTING THIS. KALYN: VASQUEZ ALWAYS PUT HIS FAMILY FIRST. HE AND HIS WIFE WERE EXPECTING A LITTLE BOY. LIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE, KOAT ACTION 7