Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; [email protected]

Casa Colorada
A man who police say was about to run down a Casa Colorada resident is in critical condition at an Albuquerque hospital after being shot in the head.

Valencia County Sheriff's Deputy Shannon Brady said the resident called 911 Monday afternoon to report that someone was trying to steal his truck. The man told police he was going to arm himself and confront the individual.
When deputies arrived at the house located at 30 Ricardo, they found that a man had been shot once in the head. Brady said the man, whose identity has not yet been released, was taken to the hospital by Lifeguard helicopter and is in critical condition.

According to Brady, when the resident went outside, he confronted a man attempting to steal his truck. The resident aimed his gun at the suspect and ordered him into a kneeling position.

"In the meantime, the driver of a vehicle, who we believe was with the alleged thief, whips around and started coming at him at a high rate of speed," Brady said. "He (the resident) turns around, fires his weapon (into the windshield) and hits the subject in the head."

Immediately following the shooting, the man who was ordered to his knees ran away, heading north through a large field. Deputies searched the area for the man, but were unable to find him. He was described as standing about five-foot-eight-inches tall and wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

Brady said Monday night that the resident was still being questioned by detectives and charges have not been filed. They had not released the names of either the resident or the man in the car.

"This case could turn out to be a justifiable shooting," Brady said. "We are looking at it from all angles."

Crime scene investigators with New Mexico State Police were called into assist deputies in gathering evidence.