A teenage boy was jailed on charges of murder after authorities said he reported killing four members of his family at a New Mexico home on Saturday.
The 16-year-old boy called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths near the small city of Belen, 33 miles south of Albuquerque, according to New Mexico state police.
The teenager, who was “extremely intoxicated,” exited a residence and surrendered to arriving deputies with his hands raised, police said.
Inside, authorities found four people dead and a handgun on the kitchen table, police said.
State police released the identity of the teenager and the victims, however, NBC News does not typically name juveniles accused of crimes.
The four people killed were ages 42, 35, 16 and 14. Their relationships to each other and the suspect was not immediately available, but police said he “told a dispatcher he had killed his family.”
Authorities did not release additional information about the crime, including a possible motive.
“New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau agents and Crime Scene Team are processing the scene and conducting interviews to learn what led up to these tragic events,” the agency said.
After detoxification at a hospital, the teenage suspect was “medically cleared” and booked at the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque early Sunday, police said.
The suspect was charged with four counts of first-degree murder and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque, police said.
The completed investigation will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, police said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the suspect has retained legal counsel. Public defenders based in Albuquerque did not immediately respond to request for comment.
