16-year-old boy accused of killing 4 family members in New Mexico

By Victor Akan

A teenage boy was jailed on murder charges after, authorities said, he reported killing four members of his family at a New Mexico home Saturday.

The 16-year-old boy called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths near the small city of Belen, 33 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico State Police said.

The teenager, who was “extremely intoxicated,” left a residence and surrendered to arriving deputies with his hands raised, police said.

Inside, authorities found four people dead and a handgun on the kitchen table, police said.

State police released the identity of the teenager and the victims; however, NBC News does not typically name juveniles accused of crimes.

The four people who were killed were ages 42, 35, 16 and 14. Their relationships to one another and the suspect were not immediately available, but police said he “told a dispatcher he had killed his family.”

Authorities did not release additional information, including a possible motive.

“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,” the agency said.

After detoxification at a hospital, the teenage suspect was “medically cleared” and booked at the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque early Sunday, police said.

The suspect was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque, police said.

The completed investigation will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, police said.

It was not immediately clear whether the suspect has legal counsel. Public defenders based in Albuquerque did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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