Palm City home invasion suspect arrested
May 19th, 2009 by Ana X. Ceron
Christopher Reber
STUART — A man accused of breaking into a Palm City couple’s home last month is now behind bars facing charges of attempted murder and armed burglary.
Christopher Reber, 23, was arrested last Wednesday on those charges after his release from St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Martin County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Rhonda Irons said.
Reber was shot when he broke into Joe Russo and Linda Schultz’s house the morning of April 16, sheriff’s investigators say.
That morning Reber entered the home in the 1500 block of Southwest Crossing Circle after shooting into a sliding glass door, then headed to an upstairs bedroom where Schultz was waiting with a handgun, according to sheriff’s reports.
Schultz told deputies she shot at Reber three times, striking him in the torso.
Reber then fled in his mother’s black Ford Contour and drove to her condo in the 1200 block of Southeast Parkview Place.
The mother told detectives her son took a shower and asked her to take him to the Suburban Lodge Extended Stay Hotel on U.S. 1 in Stuart.
Once she dropped off Reber there, investigators say, the woman drove to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and told deputies where her son was staying.
When authorities got to the hotel, they found Reber in Room 337, trying to hang himself with a belt in the shower, the reports state.
Deputies apprehended Reber and he was flown to St. Mary’s.
Earlier that day paramedics had also flown Schultz to St. Mary’s. She reported Reber wounded her with a shotgun when he broke into the house.
Schultz also told investigators Reber had been employed at Russo’s restaurant, Brooklyn Joe’s Pizzeria, and had lived with the couple for roughly five months back in 2007.
On Monday, authorities added to the charges that Reber was facing after his arrest last week.
He now faces charges of felony burglary and grand theft.
Reber told investigators he had broken into Schultz and Russo’s home on April 1. Reber said he intended to steal cash, but ended up running off with the money and a computer.
After that burglary the couple reported other items missing, such as jewelry and cameras.
Tags: Christopher Reber, Linda Schultz, Martin County Sheriff's Office
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May 19th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Too bad she didn’t have better aim. That boy needs to be of the streets forever..
May 19th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
A better shot would have put him in his rightful place down under.
May 19th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Linda, learn shot placement. Shoot to kill.