A Rio Rancho homeowner shot and critically wounded an armed 15-year-old earlier this week after the teen broke into the home in the middle of the night, according to Rio Rancho police.
Shaquan Ketcham was in critical condition at a local hospital Friday after he was shot early Wednesday morning, according to RRPD spokesman Lt. Nicholas Onken.
Onken said Ketcham, who lives in Albuquerque, broke into a home in the 1000 block of Luz de Sol in the Cabezon area of Rio Rancho before 2 a.m. Wednesday. He was armed with a handgun, Onken said.
The homeowner shot the teen, who then fled, according to police.
A staffer at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center called police to report Ketcham had shown up at the emergency room with at least one gunshot wound around 2 a.m., Onken said. Moments later, the homeowner called reporting he had shot someone.
Police found “evidence from the burglary scene” on Ketcham, but have not explained what that evidence was. The teen was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital.
Onken said he will be charged with aggravated burglary.
He said Ketcham was with at least one other person who dropped him off at the hospital that morning. Police are investigating who that was, and whether Ketcham was involved in any other break-ins before the shooting.
Onken said the details of what led up to the shooting – including whether Ketcham threatened the homeowner – are still under investigation. The homeowner likely won’t face charges, but police won’t make an official determination until the investigation is complete, Onken said.
Police have not identified the homeowner.
