A 16-year-old boy from New Mexico has been charged with murder after he allegedly put in a drunken call to 911 to report that he had killed his family.
Police say the incident took place at around 3:30am local time on Saturday, December 14, when the 911 dispatcher heard the teenager say that he had killed his parents and two siblings.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene in Belen, located south of Albuquerque, and found the 16-year-old as he walked out of the home with his hands in the air.
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Officers went inside the home and found the bodies of two teenagers and two adults, identified as the teen's parents, brother, and sister.
All four members of the family had suffered fatal gunshot wounds, and a handgun was found on the kitchen table.
According to a press release from New Mexico State Police, the teen was 'extremely intoxicated' when he approached the officers and he was taken into custody 'without incident'.
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A motive in the case was not immediately clear, but the police statement said that the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team are still investigating and will be 'conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events'.
Following his arrest, the 16-year-old was taken to a nearby hospital to detox from the alcohol before being booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
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In the wake of the shootings, the Belen Consolidated Schools district shared a statement assuring that students in need had access to counseling services and mental health support.
Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez said in the statement: "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic event involving the killing of his family by a BHS student this past Saturday. Our hearts go out to the victims, their loved ones and everyone impacted by this devastating loss.
"This heartbreaking incident reminds us of the importance of vigilance in addressing the challenges our youth face, promoting mental health awareness and ensuring a safe and nurturing environment for everyone.
"We are committed to working closely with law enforcement, school officials and community leaders to understand how such a tragedy could occur and to take steps to do our part in preventing anything like this from happening again," the superintendent added. "It is our collective responsibility to ensure our children and families feel safe, supported and valued."
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New Mexico State Police has said that the case will be presented to the district attorney's office for prosecution once the investigation is complete.
Emily Brown