New Mexico State Police investigate quadruple homicide in Belen

BELEN, N.M. — Authorities took a 16-year-old suspect into custody after a quadruple homicide Saturday at a home on Camino Escondido in Belen.

The Valencia County Sheriff’s Office learned Diego Leyva reportedly called 911 around 3:30 a.m., stating he killed his family. When sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene, they reportedly found Leyva intoxicated but took him into custody without incident.

Deputies then entered the home and found four victims, all dead from apparent gunshot wounds. That prompted the sheriff’s office to call New Mexico State Police in to investigate.

New Mexico State Police identified the victims as the suspect’s parents – 42-year-old Leonardo Leyva and 35-year-old Adriana Bencomo – and siblings – 17-year-old Adrian Leyva and 14-year-old Alexander Leyva. According to NMSP, they found a handgun on a kitchen table.

Leyva faces four counts of first-degree murder. He underwent detox at a local hospital, and is now in the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.

Lawrence Sanchez, the superintendent at Belen Consolidated Schools, issued a statement to families in the wake of the shooting. Sanchez expressed his condolences for loved ones and shared what they’re doing to help affected students. He also confirmed the suspect is a student at Belen High School.

“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. No words can adequately convey the profound sorrow we feel for this unimaginable tragedy,” Sanchez stated.

Sanchez added the school district is working closely with law enforcement, school officials and community leaders to make sense of how this happened and how to prevent something like this from happening in the future.

The district will have additional counseling services for students at Belen Middle School and Belen High School.