16-Year-Old New Mexico Boy Accused of Family Murders with Handgun

A 16-year-old New Mexico teenager, Diego Leyva, has been charged with the murder of four family members, according to the New Mexico State Police. Leyva allegedly killed his father, Leonardo Leyva, 42, his mother, Adriana Bencomo, 35, and his two brothers, ages 16 and 14, in their home in Belen, New Mexico, located about 33 miles south of Albuquerque.

Leyva reportedly called 911 around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday to report the killings. Upon arrival, officers found Leyva outside the residence, surrendering with his hands raised. Police noted that he appeared extremely intoxicated at the time of his arrest. Inside the home, officers discovered the bodies of the four victims and a handgun placed on the kitchen table.

Leyva has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and is currently in custody at a Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.

Adriana Bencomo, one of the victims, was a volunteer firefighter with the Valencia County Fire Department. The department expressed its grief in a Facebook post, offering condolences to Bencomo’s family and colleagues. In response to the tragedy, additional staffing and peer support services have been brought in to assist the local fire departments during this difficult time.

At this stage, it is unclear whether Leyva has legal representation.

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