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A 16-year-old boy, Diego Leyva, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after allegedly killing four family members in Belen, New Mexico, on Saturday (December 14). According to New Mexico State Police, Leyva called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths and confessed to the dispatcher that he had killed his family.
Upon arrival, deputies found Leyva outside the residence with his hands raised. He was described as "extremely intoxicated" and was taken into custody without incident. Inside the home, authorities discovered the bodies of his father, Leonardo Leyva, 42; his mother, Adriana Bencomo, 35; his twin brother, Adrian Leyva, 16; and his younger brother, Alexander Leyva, 14. A handgun was found on the kitchen table.
The motive behind the tragic incident remains unknown, and the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau is conducting interviews to understand what led to the events. After being medically cleared from detoxification at a hospital, Leyva was booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
The Belen Consolidated Schools district has expressed deep sadness over the incident and is offering additional counseling services to students. Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez emphasized the importance of mental health awareness and community vigilance in preventing such tragedies.
The completed investigation will be presented to the district attorney's office for prosecution. It is unclear whether Leyva has legal representation at this time.