New Mexico’s latest tragedy spurs call for reform of treatment law

John Hyde, 48, shot and killed five people in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in mid August, including two police officers dispatched to bring him in for an evaluation.

For at least five months, according to his family, Hyde had been off medication for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder – in April, police responded to his home at the request of his 80-year-old mother, but there was nothing they could do to help. New Mexico remains one of eight states without an assisted outpatient treatment law (also known as involuntary commitment). Now many are questioning if it is time to change that.