Sixteen-year-old Diego Leyva from Belen, New Mexico, has been arrested for allegedly murdering his family.
He called the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office to report the quadruple murder on Sunday, police stated.
Prior to his call, the sheriff’s office received a 911 call from the teen early Saturday.
He informed the dispatcher that he had killed his family, according to New Mexico State Police.
When deputies arrived, the teenager emerged from the residence with his hands raised and appeared very intoxicated.
Upon entering the house, deputies found Leonardo Leyva, 42; Adriana Bencomo, 35; Adrian Leyva, 16; and Alexander Leyva, 14, all deceased.
Each victim was confirmed by police to have suffered from suspected gunshot wounds, adding to the tragedy of the incident.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered a handgun that was found resting on the kitchen table, raising further questions.
The motive behind this tragic incident remains unclear, prompting the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau to conduct thorough interviews.
After being medically cleared from detoxification at a hospital, Leyva was then booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
The Belen Consolidated Schools district has expressed deep sadness over the incident and is offering additional counseling services to students.
Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and community vigilance in preventing such tragedies.
The teenager now faces four counts of first-degree murder, according to police.
