Teenager Charged with Murder After Fatally Shooting Four Family Members in New Mexico
A 16-year-old boy in New Mexico has been charged with murder after he reported killing four members of his family early Saturday morning.
The teenager called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths near Belen, a small city 33 miles south of Albuquerque.
According to New Mexico State Police, the suspect was “extremely intoxicated” when he surrendered to deputies with his hands raised. Inside the residence, officers found four people dead and a handgun on the kitchen table. The victims were ages 42, 35, 16, and 14.
The suspect told a dispatcher that he had killed his family, although the exact relationships between the victims were not immediately clear. Following detoxification at a hospital, the suspect was “medically cleared” and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque. He faces four counts of first-degree murder.
The investigation is ongoing, with the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents and Crime Scene Team processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to the tragic events. The case will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.
The motive behind the killings and further details are yet to be released by the authorities. It is also unclear if the suspect has obtained legal representation.
