A teenage boy allegedly killed his entire family in the early hours of Saturday in Belén, New Mexico, and then called 911 to confess. Authorities say the 16-year-old, identified as Diego Leyva, was heavily intoxicated at the time.
The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office responded to the chilling 3.30 am call, where Leyva reportedly admitted to shooting his parents and two teenage siblings. When officers arrived at the family home, the suspect surrendered without resistance, walking outside with his hands raised.
Inside the house, police discovered the lifeless bodies of Leyva’s father, Leonardo Leyva (42), mother, Adriana Bencomo (35), sister, Adrian Leyva (16), and brother, Alexander Leyva (14). A firearm was recovered from the kitchen table, investigators confirmed.
Leyva was initially taken to a nearby hospital for detoxification before being transferred to a juvenile detention centre in Albuquerque. He now faces charges of first-degree murder, but authorities are still investigating the motive behind the horrific crime.
The community of Belén has been shaken by the tragedy, with many struggling to comprehend the events. Former teacher Vanessa LaGrange expressed her disbelief, telling The Guardian: “I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this. Everyone’s in shock.”
The killings have drawn comparisons to “family annihilation” cases, where individuals kill multiple relatives, often within the same household. These crimes, often involving firearms, remain rare but devastating, as reported by the Guardian.
Further reports revealed that one victim was a volunteer firefighter, while another was a middle school student. Classmates of the student are planning a memorial, with many expected to gather to honour their peers.
This incident is the 29th mass murder in the United States this year, sparking debates on gun violence and the lack of federal action on gun control.