New Mexico authorities in the United States of America have charged a teenage boy with murder after he reported killing four family members early Saturday.
The 16-year-old suspect called 911 at 3:32 a.m. to report the deaths near Belen, a small city 33 miles south of Albuquerque, New Mexico State Police said.
The teenager, who police said was “extremely intoxicated,” left the residence and surrendered to deputies with his hands raised, according to NBC News.
Inside, officers found four people dead and a handgun on the kitchen table, authorities reported.
The victims were ages 42, 35, 16, and 14. While their exact relationships were not immediately clear, police noted the suspect “told a dispatcher he had killed his family.”
“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.
Following detoxification at a hospital, the suspect was “medically cleared” and booked into the Juvenile Justice Center in Albuquerque.
He faces four counts of first-degree murder.
Authorities did not release a motive for the killings or further details. The investigation will be presented to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, police added.
It remains unclear if the suspect has obtained legal representation. Public defenders in Albuquerque did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
NBC News, which typically does not name juvenile offenders, withheld the teenager’s identity.