ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.
(AP) -- The New Mexico teenager accused of fatally shooting his
parents and three younger siblings had never been in trouble with the
law, according to state officials.
The state's
child welfare agency has no record of any contacts with 15-year-old
Nehemiah Griego or his family, spokesman Bob Tafoya said Monday.
A
records check by the Department of Children, Youth and Families also
indicated the youth "had no involvement with the juvenile justice system
whatsoever," Tafoya said.
Griego remained in
custody Monday on two counts of murder and three counts of child abuse
resulting in death. He was arrested following the shootings Saturday at a
home in a rural area southwest of Albuquerque where he lived with his
family.
Investigators trying to piece together
what led to the violence found several guns believed used in the
shootings, including one described by authorities as a semi-automatic
assault-type rifle. The owner of the weapons hasn't been determined.
"There's
no other way to say it, except that we have a horrific crime scene down
there that we are working on," said Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan
Houston said.
Authorities identified the
victims as Greg Griego, 51, his wife Sara Griego, 40, and three of their
children: a 9-year-old boy, Zephania Griego, and daughters Jael Griego,
5, and Angelina Griego, 2.
"Right now we're
to the meticulous points of processing the scene and collecting physical
evidence, and this is a vast scene with a lot of physical evidence,"
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department spokesman Lt. Sid Covington said
Sunday.
Investigators were at the scene Monday
but refused to release any more details about the crime. Spokesman
Deputy Aaron Williamson did confirm there was no history of any
emergency calls to the home in the recent past.
Among
the victims was Greg Griego, who had once served as a pastor at one of
Albuquerque's largest Christian churches and was well-known throughout
the law enforcement community for his work with Albuquerque firefighters
and as a volunteer chaplain who offered spiritual guidance to inmates
at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
"Chaplain
Griego was a dedicated professional that passionately served his fellow
man and the firefighters of this community," Fire Chief James Breen
said in a statement. "His calming spirit and gentle nature will be
greatly missed."
Jail Chief Ramon Rustin said
Griego was instrumental in the creation of the county jail's chaplain
program and worked to get inmates integrated back into the community.
At Calvary, the Christian church, Griego oversaw the Straight Street program for jail inmates.
On
Sunday, a police roadblock cut off public access to the narrow dirt
road that leads to the home, which is surrounded by trees and an
agricultural field on one side.
Neighbors said
they saw the first police cars and ambulances arrive at the home
Saturday night. The road was blocked and word of the shootings began to
make its way through the neighborhood.
Peter
Gomez, a 54-year-old carpenter who lives about 200 yards from the home,
said he had seen the family - a husband and wife and their four children
- pass by many times but didn't know them personally.
"It's
a horrible thing," Gomez said. "You see all this stuff that happens all
over the country, the shootings in the schools and theaters, and then
it happens right here. It's sad."
Authorities
declined to release details of any conversation that the 15-year-old had
with investigators, but they said he was the Griegos' son.
The
sheriff's office said it wouldn't release any further information about
the case until Sheriff Dan Houston holds a news conference Tuesday
morning.
The teen was expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
