A 16-year-old New Mexico boy has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder after allegedly killing his parents and two siblings, then drunkenly calling 911 to confess.
According to authorities, the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 14, from a teenager who claimed to have killed his entire family. Deputies arrived at the Belén home to find 16-year-old Diego Leyva walking out of the residence with his hands raised in surrender. Police described him as “extremely intoxicated” but said he cooperated fully with their investigation.
Inside the home, officers discovered a handgun on the kitchen table and the bodies of four victims. The victims have been identified as Leonardo Leyva (42), Adriana Bencomo (35)—the suspect’s parents—and his 14-year-old and 16-year-old brothers. Authorities believe all four died from gunshot wounds.
The tragedy has rocked the local community. Adriana Bencomo, one of the victims, was an active member of the Valencia County Fire Department. In a statement, the department expressed that it was “shocked and saddened by this loss.”
The Belén Consolidated Schools district, where Leyva was a student, responded by offering additional counseling services for grieving classmates and staff. Superintendent Lawrence Sanchez shared a statement on Sunday via Facebook:
“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.”
Sanchez emphasized the importance of addressing youth challenges and promoting mental health awareness to prevent similar tragedies in the future. “It is our collective responsibility to ensure our children and families feel safe, supported, and valued,” he concluded.
Following his arrest, Leyva was transported to a hospital for detox. Once medically cleared, he was booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque on December 15.
The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team are continuing to investigate the case, processing evidence and conducting interviews to uncover what led to the tragic events. Their findings will be turned over to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.
