New Mexico teenager heard a voice that ‘advised him to kill his household,’ police say

A New Mexico teenager accused of murdering 4 kinfolk advised investigators he heard a voice that ordered him to kill his household, a state police spokesperson mentioned Wednesday.

The 16-year-old, whom NBC Information is just not figuring out as a result of he’s a minor, faces 4 counts of first-degree homicide in reference to the killings Saturday in Belen, about 30 miles from Albuquerque. The boy is being held in a juvenile detention heart in Albuquerque however may very well be charged as an grownup later, the thirteenth Judicial District Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned.

It was not instantly clear whether or not he had an legal professional.

The suspect referred to as 911 round 3:30 a.m. Saturday and “advised the dispatcher he had killed his household,” state police mentioned in a press release over the weekend. It described him as “extraordinarily intoxicated” and mentioned he exited a residence and surrendered when officers arrived.

The officers discovered 4 individuals lifeless inside the house and a handgun within the kitchen, state police mentioned. 

A motive had not but been decided, Ricardo Breceda, a public info officer for the New Mexico State Police, advised NBC Information on Wednesday.

The suspect “advised brokers {that a} voice advised him to kill his household,” Breceda mentioned.

The suspect made the assertion Sunday when he was sober, mentioned Breceda, who added that the gun used within the shootings had been bought by the teenager’s father, who was one of many victims. Breceda mentioned authorities weren’t positive whether or not the boy had a historical past of psychological sickness.

State police recognized the victims as Adriana Bencomo, 35; Leonardo Leyva, 42; Adrian Leyva, 17; and Alexander Leyva, 14. 

‘She completely liked being a mother’

Bencomo had been a volunteer firefighter and was a doting mom, mentioned those that knew her. Information of the murders surprised her present and former colleagues on the Metropolis of Rio Communities Fireplace Division, the place she volunteered.

“She completely liked being a mother,” mentioned Ashley Romero-Reynolds, a former volunteer who now lives in Ohio. “She would convey her boys to the hearth division after we had little occasions there and whatnot or simply to see their mother.”

Romero-Reynolds mentioned Bencomo glided by “Andy” and at all times wished to make individuals giggle — whether or not it was by cracking jokes or by doing foolish dances.

“If somebody is having a nasty day, assured she is going to make it higher,” Romero-Reynolds mentioned.

Bencomo was a volunteer firefighter for 17 years, responding to precedence calls, reminiscent of home blazes, automotive wrecks and medical emergencies, Fireplace Chief Andrew Tabet mentioned.

He described Bencomo as an important a part of the hearth crew who at all times put others first. 

“She was a real one who wished to assist her group. She wished to be there for individuals,” Tabet mentioned, including that Bencomo was bilingual and helped the division with any language limitations.

Tabet mentioned he had been buddies with Bencomo for 15 years and final spoke together with her the day earlier than she died.

“We had been each trying ahead to the vacations,” he mentioned. “I’ll miss her smile and real appreciation for everybody who was right here.” 

Leonardo Beltran, the daddy of sufferer Leonardo Leyva, mentioned he was struggling to come back to phrases with the lack of his relations.

“The lifeless are lifeless, and I can’t resurrect them,” he mentioned in Spanish when he was reached by cellphone Tuesday. “It’s extremely troublesome.”

The suspect was a pupil at Belen Excessive Faculty, and the youngest sufferer, Alexander, attended Belen Center Faculty, mentioned Lawrence Sanchez, superintendent of Belen Consolidated Colleges. Adrian, 17, attended a faculty outdoors the district, he mentioned.

The college system has introduced in sources to assist college students and workers members deal with the tragedy.

“We’re taking part in every day by ear,” Sanchez mentioned, including that the primary day again in school after the killings “was a tricky day.”

In a press release this week, Sanchez mentioned the varsity district is dedicated to working carefully with regulation enforcement and faculty officers “to take steps to do our half in stopping something like this from taking place once more.”

“It’s our collective duty to make sure our kids and households really feel protected, supported, and valued,” he wrote.