Diego Leyva, Belen, New Mexico teen shoots dead his family of four in Valencia County homicide. Suspect was found ‘extremely drunk’. Victims id as parents, Leonardo Leyva & Adriana Bencomo, and teen brother and sister.
A 16 year old New Mexico boy is in custody after allegedly confessing to gunning down his family of four at a home just sough of Belen on Saturday.
Diego Leyva is alleged to have called 911 around 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning to say that he had killed his entire family at their home on Camino Escondido. Deputies from the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, with Leyva turning himself in, exiting the home with his ‘hands in the air’ while being found to be ‘extremely intoxicated,’ at the time of his arrest.
According to State Police, four people were found dead inside the home and a handgun was found on the kitchen table. The victims have been identified as 42-year-old Leonardo Leyva, 35-year-old Adriana Bencomo, Leyva’s 16-year-old brother and Leyva’s 14-year-old brother.
What led to 16 year old New Mexico boy shooting dead his family?
The 16 year old teen was taken to a nearby hospital for detox and then booked into a juvenile justice center in Albuquerque early Sunday morning, officials said.
Diego Leyva has been charged with four counts of first degree murder. He is being held at the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque, KOAT reported.
A former teacher was left aghast by the slayings, and in disbelief that the teen boy could be responsible for the ruthless slaying.
‘I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this’ educator Vanessa LaGrange told the Guardian. ‘Everyone’s in shock.’
No known motive was immediately known.
Read a statement released by the City of Rio Communities Fire & Rescue on Facebook: ‘Adriana Bencomo, was an active volunteer firefighter with the Rio Communities Fire Department and had served for many years.
‘Valencia County, Rio Communities and our brothers and sisters at RCFD are shocked and saddened by this unexpected loss.’
