The Guardian - (archived: https://archive.ph/UVbFy ) US teen arrested in connection with deaths of four family members

A 16-year-old boy in New Mexico faces murder charges after allegedly killing his family, police say

Coral Murphy Marcos
Sun 15 Dec 2024 16.29 EST

A 16-year-old boy in New Mexico allegedly killed four members of his family and then drunkenly turned himself in Saturday, investigators said.

The New Mexico state police said in a Facebook post that the teen was arrested in Belén, a small city in Valencia county, after he called authorities late at night and informed them he killed his family.

When the police arrived, the boy – identified as Diego Leyva – walked out of his home with his hands in the air and in an “extremely intoxicated” state, according to a statement from investigators. Inside the home, officers said they found a gun on the kitchen table and the bodies of the deceased family members.

New Mexico state police said they arrested Levya and booked him as an adult on four counts of murder. He was also brought to a hospital to undergo detoxification while investigators and crime scene technicians prepared to interview him, police added.

Members of the Valencia county community expressed a sense of disbelief Sunday after learning the identity of the accused killer. One of his former teachers said she was in disbelief that one of her students could have allegedly carried out such a horrendous act.

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