A 16-year-old boy in New Mexico is in custody after allegedly killing his parents and two brothers in a quadruple homicide, authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call early Saturday from a male minor who reportedly confessed to the killings. Deputies arriving at the Belen home found the suspect exiting with his hands up, extremely intoxicated, according to New Mexico State Police.
Inside the residence, officers discovered the victims—Leonardo Leyva, 42, Adriana Bencomo, 35, Adrian Leyva, 16, and Alexander Leyva, 14—dead from gunshot wounds. A handgun was found on the kitchen table.
The suspect has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Officials confirmed the victims were the boy’s immediate family members.
This incident adds to the alarming number of mass shootings in the United States, where gun violence continues to be a pervasive issue. The Gun Violence Archive reports at least 484 mass shootings in 2024, defined as incidents involving four or more victims, either injured or killed.
