The Press Democrat, Santa Rosa, Calif., l2/18/2006

GERRY STECKMYER AND his wife awoke to a loud commotion and were shocked by what they saw outside their bedroom window -- a deranged man was shouting and jumping on the roof of their car. Police say that when Mr. Steckmyer opened the window and shouted at the man to get off the car, the man walked toward the house and started trying to break in. He kicked the home's front door and slammed his shoulder into it. Steckmyer repeatedly told the man to leave and warned that police were on the way, but there was no stopping the man's odd behavior. He grabbed a 5-gallon water cooler bottle, smashed in'a window and entered the home. When the intruder neared the master bedroom, Steckmyer shot him with a handgun, killing him.