Albuquerque, New Mexico

From Albuquerque’s KRQE.com of December 22, 2006

Killing reported as home defense

Albuquerque police are investigating a South Valley homicide which initially was reported as a homeowner shooting an intruder who then drove into the home as he tried to flee.

The 911 call came in about noon from the 600 block of Desert Dr. SW with the homeowner saying he had just shot an intruder.

Police think the suspected intruder, after being shot, got into a car, rammed a roof-support pillar and fence, then died.

Police are questioning the homeowner and his wife and kids who were in the home at the time.

Detectives have not determined if the shooting took place inside or outside the house, but they did recover a gun inside.

No one is charged with a crime at this point.

Late this afternoon the body of the suspected intruder was still in the car.

Police have been waiting for a search warrant to proceed with the investigation.

Investigators also cautioned the information currently released is very preliminary. They also said they're still checking out the homeowner's story.

The homeowner and his family were not hurt in this incident.

No names have been released.

From Albuquerque’s KRQE.com of December 26, 2006

Dead man tried burglary

A deadly shooting in southwest Albuquerque Friday was the result of a burglary gone bad, according to Albuquerque police who released the dead burglar’s name today.

Raymond Gabaldon, 40, had a long criminal record and was driving a stolen car when he picked the home in the 600 block of Desert Drive SW to burglarize. He broke into the home apparently unaware the frightened homeowner, his wife and two children were there, according to police.

The homeowner then shot Gabaldon who fled to the car reported stolen on Dec. 7, his birthday, but crashed it into the home and a fence as he died behind the wheel from the gunshot wound.

Police are not releasing the family’s name and said the homeowner will not face charges. He called 911 reporting he had shot an intruder although police initially cautioned they needed to investigate further before accepting the story.

Gabaldon had a history of burglary and auto theft charges dating back to the 1990's.

“We don't know exactly yet, but we do know that the officer that was at the homicide had taken several calls with the same description,” Albuquerque police Officer Trish Hoffman said. “So we do believe he may be linked to some other burglaries maybe that we haven't been able to solve."

While the homeowner has not been charged, police are forwarding the case to the district attorney's office for review.

This was the third time in a month that a homeowner in the metro area shot and killed someone entering their homes.

In all three cases the homeowners were not charged.