Kerry Lewis, a UNM student, was shot and killed in his home in Albuquerque on Friday, July 10. He was 21.
APD spokesman John Walsh said officers found Lewis with a gunshot wound to the head at the house he shared near Indian School Road and Rio Grande Boulevard. He was transported to University Hospital in critical condition, where he later died from his injuries.
No arrests have been made in connection with Lewis' death.
Walsh said police found drug paraphernalia and drugs in the house.
"We're looking at this case with the possibility of there being a drug component to it," he said.
Larissa Lewis, Kerry's mother, said she doesn't believe Kerry was into drugs.
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"He didn't have drugs in his system," she said. "He had tried pot and had stopped it a year or more ago. . He was clean."
Kerry's mother said her son had a kind disposition all his life.
"He had an inherent serenity or calmness that he's had since he was a child," she said. "He actually has never had a temper tantrum."
Student Laura James, Lewis' friend for two years, said he was an optimistic and enthusiastic young man.
"He was just very passionate about his life and his music, being a good person and spreading love around," James said. "I would really like people to remember how nice and kind he was - and full-hearted."
Cheo Torres, vice president of Student Affairs, issued a statement on behalf of the University July 13.
"We are just devastated and our sympathies go out to (Lewis') friends and family," he said.ˇ
Two services were held in Lewis' memory - one Buddhist and one Catholic - and Larissa said she doesn't have plans for another memorial.
"The first two were so beautiful," she said. "There was a completion to it."
As a Buddhist, Larissa said Kerry was wise beyond his years and was accepted into the Buddhist faith at a young age.
"Once when I was really traumatized and going through a divorce and really crying a lot - he was 11 - and he put his arm around me and said 'Mom, it's only one lifetime,'" she said.
