Derek Pagan had joined the Army in 2011. Prior to joining the Army, he was just another young man from Kunkletown, Pa trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. Although his mother wasn’t thrilled with her only son joining the Army, she supported his decision.

After completing basic training and AIT, he was stationed at Fort Hood in Kileen Texas. He had joined the military to further his education, travel and to make a career of the military. Tragically, his dreams of a career ended in the early morning hours of April 26, 2015. Coincidentally, his mother said his enlistment date was April 26, 2011. So he died exactly four years after enlisting.

On the night of his death, Derek was walking along U.S. 183 after attending a Life in Color concert. While returning to his hotel, an unknown vehicle struck him and left him for dead. Passerbys stopped to offer assistance to the mortally wounded soldier. Unfortunately, Derek didn’t survive. It’s believed a White vehicle struck him. He was then thrown onto the hood. It could have possibly been a passenger car or a pickup truck.

If you have any information about Derek’s murder, please contact the The Austin Police Department tip line at 512-472-8477, 1-800-893-8477 or contact Detective Eads at 512-563-6233. You can also visit the Justice for Derek FB page for additional information about this case.

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