A 16-year-old boy in New Mexico, United States, has been charged with murder after admitting to killing four members of his family in the early hours of Saturday. The teenager called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths, which occurred in a residence near Belen, a small city about 33 miles south of Albuquerque, according to New Mexico State Police.
Authorities revealed that the suspect, described as “extremely intoxicated,” left the house and surrendered to deputies with his hands raised. Inside the home, officers discovered four deceased individuals and a handgun placed on the kitchen table. The victims, whose ages were reported as 42, 35, 16, and 14, were believed to be related to the suspect. Police noted that during the emergency call, the boy confessed to killing his family.
In a statement, the New Mexico State Police said their Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team are actively processing the crime scene and conducting interviews to determine the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
After being taken to a hospital for detoxification, the teenager was declared “medically cleared” and subsequently booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque. He now faces four counts of first-degree murder.
Authorities have not disclosed the motive for the killings, nor have they provided further details about the incident. The case will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, according to police.
It remains uncertain whether the suspect has secured legal representation. Public defenders in Albuquerque did not respond to requests for comment on the case.
NBC News, which does not typically disclose the identities of juvenile offenders, chose to withhold the suspect’s name in its reporting.
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Chronicles Reporters