BELÉN, NM - A 16-year-old New Mexico boy, Diego Leyva, was placed under arrest Saturday after calling 911 in a drunken state and confessing to murdering his parents and both siblings, a sister, 17, and younger brother, 14. New Mexico State Police said in a press release that Levya who is facing four counts of first-degree murder was arrested peacefully after Valencia County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at his home, emerging from the house with his hands raised.
According to The New York Post, the arresting officers noted the 16-year-old’s state as “extremely intoxicated." They told reporters that the family was found inside their home dead from gunshot wounds with a handgun lying on the kitchen table.
“Diego walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was extremely intoxicated. He was taken into custody without incident,” police said in the statement.
Local news outlet KRQE reported that the NMSP Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team are leading the investigation. The victims were identified as Levya’s father, Leonardo Leyva, 42, and mother, Adriana Bencomo, 35, a volunteer firefighter with the Rio Communities Fire Department, his sister Adrian Leyva, and brother Alexander Leyva.
In a statement released Sunday, The Valencia County Fire Department wrote, “Diego Leyva has been charged with (4) Open Counts of First-Degree Murder. He was taken to an area hospital for detox. He was medically cleared and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque at around 1:00 a.m. on December 15th.
"This incident is in the preliminary stages of investigation. New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents and Crime Scene Team are processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events. Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the district attorney's office for prosecution."
The Post revealed that the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital to detox and was then transferred to Albuquerque pending trial. A former teacher of Leyva’s who spoke to The Guardian said, “I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this.” She added, “Everyone’s in shock.”
Per KRQE, the case is being presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution and Leyva has been booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
According to The New York Post, the arresting officers noted the 16-year-old’s state as “extremely intoxicated." They told reporters that the family was found inside their home dead from gunshot wounds with a handgun lying on the kitchen table.
“Diego walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was extremely intoxicated. He was taken into custody without incident,” police said in the statement.
Local news outlet KRQE reported that the NMSP Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team are leading the investigation. The victims were identified as Levya’s father, Leonardo Leyva, 42, and mother, Adriana Bencomo, 35, a volunteer firefighter with the Rio Communities Fire Department, his sister Adrian Leyva, and brother Alexander Leyva.
In a statement released Sunday, The Valencia County Fire Department wrote, “Diego Leyva has been charged with (4) Open Counts of First-Degree Murder. He was taken to an area hospital for detox. He was medically cleared and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque at around 1:00 a.m. on December 15th.
"This incident is in the preliminary stages of investigation. New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents and Crime Scene Team are processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events. Once the investigation is complete, it will be presented to the district attorney's office for prosecution."
The Post revealed that the suspect was transported to a nearby hospital to detox and was then transferred to Albuquerque pending trial. A former teacher of Leyva’s who spoke to The Guardian said, “I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this.” She added, “Everyone’s in shock.”
Per KRQE, the case is being presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution and Leyva has been booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
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