Authorities in New Mexico have made public the body camera video capturing the apprehension of a 16-year-old who stands accused of murdering his own family. The footage was released by the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.
“I wanted to call you, tell you that I killed my parents,” a 911 caller said in the early hours of Dec. 14.
New Mexico State Police say that is Diego Leyva, 16. Bodycam footage shows Valencia County sheriff’s deputies arriving at the home on Camino Escondido in the city of Balen, and arresting him.
The video of Levya’s arrest is below.
“When deputies arrived, Diego walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was extremely intoxicated,” officers wrote. “He was taken into custody without incident.”
State police said their sheriff’s office counterparts found four people dead inside the home: Leonardo Leyva, 42, Adriana Bencomo, 35, Adrian Leyva, 17, and Alexander Leyva, 14. Each was dead from suspected gunshot wounds, officers said. Investigators claimed to find a handgun on the kitchen table.
Diego Levya is charged with four counts of first-degree murder.
The Rio Communities Fire Department said that Bencomo volunteered with them as a firefighter, serving for years.
“Valencia County, Rio Communities and our brothers and sisters at RCFD are shocked and saddened by this unexpected loss,” they wrote.
According to New Mexico law, a “serious youthful offender” — minors who are at least 15 and indicted for first-degree murder — can be tried in children’s court and be given an adult sentence, but they can’t be sentenced to life without the possibility of release or parole.
