A teenage boy has been jailed on murder charges after allegedly killing four members of his family at a home in New Mexico early Saturday morning.
Authorities said the 16-year-old suspect called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths. The incident took place near the small city of Belen, located 33 miles south of Albuquerque. According to New Mexico State Police, the teenager, who was described as “extremely intoxicated,” left the home and surrendered to responding deputies with his hands raised, reported by PEOPLE.
Inside the residence, authorities discovered four victims and a handgun on the kitchen table. State police identified the victims as ages 42, 35, 16, and 14, though their relationships to one another and to the suspect have not been clarified. Police said the suspect told a dispatcher, “he had killed his family.”
In a statement, the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau said: “Agents and the Crime Scene Team are processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events.” Authorities have not released further details, including a possible motive.
After being taken into custody, the teenage suspect was brought to a hospital for detoxification. Once medically cleared, he was booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque early Sunday. The teen now faces four counts of first-degree murder.
State police confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing, with the findings to be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.
The tragic incident has left the local community in shock as details continue to emerge. While authorities work to determine what led to the deaths, the case raises ongoing concerns about youth violence and access to firearms. More information is expected as investigators gather evidence and conduct interviews.
The names of the suspect and the victims have been withheld in accordance with NBC News policy, which does not typically name juveniles accused of crimes.