Two Adults and Three Children Shot Dead in Albuquerque, NM … 15 Year Old Male Has been Arrested and Charged with the Murders (UPDATE: Suspect Named: Nehemiah Griego)

Two adults and three children were fatally shot in an Albuquerque, New Mexico home Saturday night. The identities of the victims have yet to be released; however, a man, woman and three children, two girls and one boy,  were found dead at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds. According to reports, a 15 year old male suspect has been arrested and charged with two counts of murder and three counts of “child abuse resulting in death”. Um, child abuse resulting in death? In New Mexico a death can result in any of the following charges: Murder, Intentional Child Abuse Resulting in Death, Negligent Child Abuse Resulting in Death, Second Degree Murder, Voluntary Manslaughter, Vehicular Homicide, and Involuntary Manslaughter. Police are trying to determine the suspects motive and connection to the five victims. Investigators are trying to determine whether the victims were related, and who owned several guns that were found at the home.

Police said in a statement they had found the bodies of an adult male, an adult female, two girls and a boy – all dead from multiple gunshot wounds – when they arrived at an Albuquerque home late on Saturday.

The statement said a “male juvenile” was in custody and charged with two counts of murder and three counts of “child abuse resulting in death”.

Local media reported that the suspect was 15 years old.

His motive and connection to the five victims are not immediately known, according to a spokesman for Bernalillo County sheriff.

Investigators are trying to determine whether the victims were related, and who owned several guns that were found at the home.

Several guns were found inside the home, including one assault-style rifle; however, it is still being investigated what weapons were used in the murders. All victims were killed by multiple gun shot wounds.

Aaron Williamson, a spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, said “multiple” weapons were found at the scene, including a “military-type assault rifle,” adding that the investigation was still under way.

Local networks KOB Four and KOAT Seven said police were investigating whether an assault rifle was used in the killing of a man, a woman, two girls and a boy on Saturday night local time.

 UPDATE I: Neighbors identified the two adults and three children killed Saturday night as the Griego family, who they described as active in the church as well as the South Valley neighborhood.

Griego and his wife, Sarah, have 10 kids, according to the pastor’s biography on the Calvary Church website, which has been removed. The other children’s ages were not given in the biography.

The suspect, Nehemiah Griego, 15, was not well known among those living within a block or so of the family’s home on Long Lane in the South Valley.

However, neighbor Peter Gomez said he saw the boy walk with siblings and his parents through the neighborhood regularly, and he “wore nothing but camouflage stuff”.

A male juvenile is in custody this morning following a shooting in the South Valley that left five people dead. Police identified the teen as  Nehemiah Griego, 15, Sunday at about 1:15 p.m.  Officials have not yet released the names of the dead.