Mass Murder in New Mexico: 16-Year-Old Diego Leyva Allegedly Kills Family While Intoxicated, Surrenders to Police! Community Left Reeling!
New Mexico (The Uttam Hindu): A shocking tragedy occurred early Saturday morning in Belén, New Mexico, when a 16-year-old boy, Diego Leyva, allegedly shot and killed his entire family. Leyva, who was reportedly heavily intoxicated at the time, called 911 at around 3:30 am to confess to the killings. When the Valencia County Sheriff's Office arrived at the scene, Leyva surrendered without resistance, walking out of the home with his hands raised.
Inside the home, authorities found the lifeless bodies of Leyva's father, Leonardo Leyva (42), his mother, Adriana Bencomo (35), his sister, Adrian Leyva (16), and his brother, Alexander Leyva (14). A firearm was recovered from the kitchen table, confirming the violent nature of the crime. Leyva was initially taken to a nearby hospital for detoxification before being transferred to a juvenile detention center in Albuquerque. He is now facing charges of first-degree murder, although investigators are still trying to determine the motive behind this horrific event.
The tragedy has left the Belén community in disbelief. Former teacher Vanessa LaGrange expressed her shock, saying, "I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this. Everyone’s in shock." The incident has drawn comparisons to "family annihilation" cases, where a person kills multiple family members, often within the same household. These types of crimes, though rare, are deeply tragic and have caused immense heartbreak in the community. Further reports revealed that one of the victims was a volunteer firefighter, while another was a middle school student. Classmates of the student are planning a memorial to honor their peer, with many expected to gather in tribute. This case marks the 29th mass murder in the United States this year, fueling ongoing debates over gun violence and the lack of action on federal gun control.
