Investigators combed through what one called a "horrific" crime scene
after the shooting deaths of five people, three of them kids, outside
Albuquerque, New Mexico. A 15-year-old is in custody. FULL STORY
'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest 15-year-old
January 21, 2013 -- Updated 0322 GMT (1122 HKT)
Police charge teen in deaths of five
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- A well-known local pastor was among the victims
- "It was a very gruesome scene," one investigator says
- The 15-year-old suspect may be a family member, sheriff says
- The teen faces two counts of murder and three of child abuse resulting in death
A well-known local pastor and four of his relatives were among the victims, according to those who knew him.
Each victim was shot
multiple times, said Lt. Sid Covington of the Bernalillo County
Sheriff's Department, and one of the weapons used was what he described
as an assault rifle. Sheriff Dan Houston said a 15-year-old boy, who
"may be a family member," was charged with two counts of murder and
three counts of child abuse resulting in death.
"Initially responding
deputies entered the home and found the five deceased inside the
residence, so obviously it was a very gruesome scene," Covington told
reporters. There was no indication of a motive so far, he said.
"It's a large crime scene
with a lot of physical evidence, and because there's an offender in
custody, we're doing our best to be thorough and complete in gathering
any potential evidence, and so we're going slowly, methodically, through
the entire residence," Covington told CNN.
Investigators said the dead included a man, a woman and three grade-school-age children -- two girls and a boy.
They did not release the
names of the victims, saying the process of formally identifying the
remains was still going on, but they said the home belongs to Greg and
Sarah Griego. Greg Griego was the chaplain for the Albuquerque Fire
Department and involved in several prison ministries.
"Chaplain Griego was a
dedicated professional that passionately served his fellow man and the
firefighters of this community," read a statement from Fire Chief James
Breen. "His calming spirit and gentle nature will be greatly missed. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to Greg's extended family."
Griego was also a former
pastor at Calvary Church, where the family still attended services,
church member Brian Nixon told CNN affiliate KOAT.
Griego's brother, former
state Sen. Eric Griego, issued a statement saying, "Our family is
grieving this terrible tragedy. We appreciate the prayers and support we
have received and request that the media honor our family's privacy
during this difficult time."
The family lived in a
large home at the end of a street on the southwestern edge of
Albuquerque. Neighbor Terry Wootan described it as a semi-rural area
with farms and residences.
"It's a very quiet,
decent neighborhood," Wootan told CNN. "Across America we hear it:
'Something like this could never happen in my neighborhood.' But I woke
up at 5:30 this morning to floodlights and crime investigation vehicles,
and it's just not something you think you're going to wake up to."
The sheriff said
deputies were dispatched to the home around 9:15 p.m. Saturday. They
were summoned by "a party that was called by the suspect," he said, but
"I don't know what the dynamics of that relationship is."
He said investigators
are unaware of any criminal history with the teen and were looking into
whether any family members had a record. The boy is being charged as a
juvenile, but prosecutors could charge him as an adult, Covington said.
CNN's Matt Smith contributed to this report.
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