Sandia Park, New Mexico

From Albuquerque’s KOAT.com of December 15, 2006

One Dead In Home Shooting

Investigators Believe Self-Defense Led To Shooting

What started as a call about a possible home invasion in the east mountains turned deadly Thursday night.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said it received several calls about a person trying to enter a home on La Madera Road in the Sandia Park neighborhood at about 8 p.m. Thursday night. But by the time deputies arrived one person, now identified as 23-year old Christopher Mack, was dead in the home.

Investigators believe the homeowner armed himself with a gun before deputies could get there and fired at Mack. Deputies said they spoke with the homeowner and have since released him.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office said they are trying to figure out what led Mack to the home in the first place.

The case will now be turned over to the District Attorney's office for further investigation

From Albuquerque’s KOBtv.com of December 16, 2006

Intruder shot in East Mountains home was schizophrenic, mother says

A La Madera man may not face charges after deputies say he shot and killed a man who was invading his home in the East Mountains.

Christopher Mack, 23, was killed Thursday night.

Deputies say Mack broke into a La Madera home around 8 p.m. Thursday. The homeowner called deputies, but by the time they got there, Mack was dead.

Deputies say the homeowner shot the man in self-defense, so the homeowner may not face charges.

Mack’s mother, Patti Scherer, told Eyewitness News 4 he was diagnosed with schizophrenia three years ago. She says she’s been trying to get him help ever since.

“He may have been confused, trying to find his way home,” she said. “Maybe he assumed he was in his house, and this man was a stranger in his house.”

Scherer says her son has never been a violent person and has no criminal history.

She says her other son, Patrick, died of poisoning four years ago at the same age as Christopher: 23 years, eight months.