New Mexico teen accused of killing parents, 3 siblings may have planned Wal-Mart massacre, report says

By: Crimesider Staff
Topics: Daily Blotter

Bernalillo Sheriff's Deputies investigate at the scene of the multiple homicide at South Valley in Albuquerque, N.M., on Sunday Jan. 20, 2013.

/ AP Photo/The Albuquerque Journal, Adolphe Pierre-Louis

(CBS/AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Authorities believe a 15-year-old New Mexico teen accused of shooting his parents and three younger siblings to death over the weekend planned to drive to a nearby Wal-Mart, kill more people there and eventually die in a shootout with police, the Albuquerque Journal reports.

Nehemiah Griego packed loaded weapons, including an assault rifle, into the family car in preparation for the alleged attack, according to the newspaper.

But before he could carry out his plan, the teen reportedly called and related his crime to a friend who convinced him to meet at Calvary Chapel.

According to the Journal, Griego stayed at the church for hours before telling a security guard his family had been killed. The guard drove the teenager home and notified police upon seeing the crime scene.

Investigators trying to piece together what led to the violence late Saturday night found several guns, including an AR-15 assault rifle and a .22 caliber pistol, Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said Sunday. The owner of the weapons has not been determined.

Griego was arrested following the shootings at the residence in a rural area southwest of downtown Albuquerque, the sheriff's department said. He was charged with two counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death.

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.

Nehemiah Griego 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 the 15-year-old 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.

More on Crimesider
January 21, 2013 - New Mexico teen accused of killing parents, 3 younger siblings

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by WhereisOT January 25, 2013 12:44 AM EST: Could have been much worse, pathetic to think that way but it is what it is...
Whens the next 1 coming with a higher number of dead...; Reply to this comment


by AlphaHorse January 22, 2013 12:10 PM EST: Is it just me or has nobody else noticed that the article did not say what type of weapon was actually used? It says a semi automatic assault style weapon was found on the premises but it does not say that was the one used.

Just sayin . . .; Reply to this comment


by doctor_electron January 22, 2013 6:53 AM EST: I'm sure that if someone somewhere, or is that anyone anywhere, no, it's everyone everywhere had a lot more guns this would have never happened!!!

That's how it goes.........right?!?!; Reply to this comment

by mkuisi8mo January 22, 2013 1:09 AM EST

As a retired Forensic Psychologist/Family Therapist residing in the Albuquerque metroplex (who has completed well over 3500 court ordered criminal and family evaluations, with testimony), however this unfolds, what seems obvious at this point is that this terrible tragedy is a Dysfunctional Family issue, not a gun issue.

Reply to this comment


by touchdown713 January 22, 2013 2:17 AM EST: Still a gun issue. How can you shoot somebody when you don't have access to guns? Why is shooting so frequent in the US than other countries? Simply because citizens can easily buy/ access guns.


by Phxfire January 22, 2013 3:45 AM EST: Really? You don't think having multiple weapons, especially high-capacity, semi-automatic offensive weapons readily accessible to this kid was an 'issue'? You think he would have planned to murder people at a wal-mart if he hadn't had easy access? Irresponsible gun ownership, no matter what the laws or regulations, are a 'gun issue'.


by northpark2 January 22, 2013 1:11 PM EST: its a gun issue if its not properly secured and locked away.

by logictoo January 21, 2013 10:33 PM EST

Could the weapon have been a "Tactical Weapon"?
Did they find an "Arsenal" of violent video games? Could the kid have been exposed to the violent movies that exposed them to the Assault type weapons? If the Assault type weapons are banned will Hollywood still have access to them for the movies?

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by Cowmpound January 21, 2013 10:51 PM EST: I hope not. How is the NRA going to come to the rescue on this one? More guns?

by FormerUSMCSergeant January 21, 2013 10:05 PM EST

The foolish parents paid the ultimate price for their negligence. I have no problem with that - per se. What bothers me is that the three kids paid the same price for the parent's stupidity.

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by Cowmpound January 21, 2013 10:48 PM EST: More guns? NRA more guns? How do we need more guns?


by northpark2 January 22, 2013 1:12 PM EST: right, innocent people suffer and die from ones negligent actions.


by cubscout09 January 21, 2013 9:45 PM EST: And in my neck of the woods, an off-duty police officer shot the county deputy who responded to a domestic disturbance call.; Reply to this comment


by ThomasSense January 21, 2013 8:55 PM EST: I'm grateful he had a brave friend.
I'm sad that life had such little value to this 15 yr. old.
Parents use gun locks and monitor the trash going into to your kids' heads.; Reply to this comment

by TheGameChanger January 21, 2013 7:30 PM EST

Once again here we are talking about the guns... nobody has addressed the problem which is "WHY was he having suicidal thoughts" ?

With or without firearms in that home, he could of soaked the house with gas and burned it down. If he was going to act out with violence it would of happened regardless.

Some more interesting points in this story is, a 15 year old boy waived the right to an attorney!?! He is a minor

His original story he told has now changed. Nobody was there to monitor how the interrogation process took place.

I have not seen one shred of evidence of a neighbor confirming he was a loner or was always seen alone.

He had a girlfriend, but he was a loner? Can we talk to her, can she give us more insight on why this took place?

He was not registered with any schools in the district!? Where is the paper trail of his identity and education?

Where are the family photos?

Where are family and friends speaking out about the situation?

WHO CALLED THE POLICE?

All this stuff has to be confirmed, it has NOTHING to do with guns.

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by shurch4truth January 21, 2013 7:54 PM EST: You have to be blind not to see this had everything to do with guns.

Who are our trying to fool? Yourself probably because nobody else (except paranoid gun owners) is going to believe your statement that this had nothing to do with guns.

PS I'm a gun owner. I hunt. I carried a gun everyday for 23 years as part of my job. I'm am willing to endure sensible gun laws if it helps to prevent babies from being shot. You should too.

Signing off.

Peace.


by doctor_electron January 22, 2013 6:57 AM EST: "it has NOTHING to do with guns"?!?!?

I wouldn't even begin to know how to respond to such blind tea bagger/ nra loyalty


by northpark2 January 22, 2013 1:25 PM EST: OMG UR DUM

by Doug_Oliver January 21, 2013 7:17 PM EST

If you have an assault weapon in your home, there has to be some expection that it will be misused. Perhaps to kill it's owner. Perhaps to kill the owner's children. Perhaps to kill other innocents. It is a risk gun owners have to accept.

The NRA will now recommend an armed presence in each home to go along with schools, shopping centers, theaters, temples, and on and on.

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by Woodworkerwaynew January 22, 2013 12:31 AM EST: Why would there have "to be some expectation that it will be misused" ?

MILLIONS of firearms have NOT EVER been "misused" or harmed a human being from the day they were manufactured.