Shocking video: Boys, just 7 and 9 years old, wrestle for loaded gun — and 1 points it at deputies during tense standoff



Newly released video shows two young boys engaging New Mexico deputies in an armed standoff.

The boys, ages 7 and 9, both handled a loaded handgun — and one of them even pointed it at Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies on Feb. 16

'We know where the children learned the behavior from, and that is being addressed as well.'

The two young boys, seen in the video dressed in "Minecraft" and "Star Wars"-themed pajamas, are standing next to an air-conditioning unit while handling a loaded handgun.

During the nearly seven-minute video, the boys are seen struggling with each other to take control of the gun.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

A female voice is heard saying in the drone video, "Put it down, baby. Put it down, babe."

A deputy tells the children, "Just throw it on the ground, bud. Come talk to us. You're not in trouble."

After more than five minutes into the standoff, police fired a warning shot — a non-lethal projectile — near the children, and the boy holding the gun immediately pointed it at officers.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

Deputies scream in unison, "Drop it! Drop it!"

The boy who was not holding the gun put his hand up and hid behind the air-conditioning unit.

Police fired another warning shot.

As both boys took cover between the air conditioning unit and a house, a deputy rushed toward the children and wrestled the gun away from the boy, after which other deputies converged on the scene and took the pair into custody.

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

Image source: Bernalillo County (N.M.) Sheriff’s Office

The sheriff’s office said in a statement, "Utilizing BCSO’s drone program, deputies were able to monitor the situation in real-time, providing critical updates and enhancing situational awareness. This technology allowed deputies to secure the area swiftly and safely, ultimately preventing a potential deadly force encounter with the juveniles."

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen stated, "I will tell, if it was not for our drone program, we would have probably went in there a little bit more blind and been into a deadly force confrontation pretty quick, and as you can imagine, it would have not gone well with us killing and shooting a 7- and 9-year-old."

Police said the drone program has been "instrumental in providing deputies with additional tools to manage diverse and high-risk situations."

Sheriff Allen said, "This case illustrates the complex intersection of juvenile crime, mental health, and public safety. We are taking important steps to close service gaps and expand our ability to work with juveniles involved in firearms or violent crimes."

Allen added that his department previously had been called to the home at least 50 times due to issues with the boys and their family, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Allen did note that if the boys were several years older, the department would 'probably be speaking differently and doing it the reverse route.'

BCSO Behavioral Health Unit Clinical Manager Michael Lucero said members of the unit immediately went to the boys' home to assist the family with "numerous issues they’re experiencing" and conducted psychiatric evaluations of the children.

Lucero said the unit is working on getting help for the children and the parent who reportedly has an extensive history of trauma.

The family’s case agent, Danielle Smith, told KRQE-TV, "I don’t know how much I’m able to say, so I’m just gonna leave it very vague, but we know where the children learned the behavior from, and that is being addressed as well."

BCSO Deputy Deanna Aragon said the boys were not arrested, and no charges were filed against the children. She noted that the children have not been removed from the home.

Law enforcement did not divulge where the boys got the gun but said the firearm was seized after the standoff.

Sheriff Allen said the boys “were taught how to use the firearm.”

Police said the case is still under investigation, and the parents could face charges.

“We’re dealing with a 7- and 9-year-old, so now we’re looking at the adult side, how they had the firearm, are they gonna be charged with the Bennie Hargrove law, we’re looking into all of that,” Allen stated.

The Bennie Hargrove law holds adults criminally liable for negligently allowing minors access to firearms.

Allen also pushed back against critics who called for the arrest of the young boys.

"Children are our future, and we know one side is going to say, ‘Lock them in jail.’ They’re 7 and 9 years old. I told you before, numerous times in numerous interviews, that I understand the frontal lobe,” Allen said, referring to children's incomplete brain development.

Allen added, “Arresting people isn’t the only way out of this crisis of juvenile crime. ... You have to look at it from a bunch of different avenues and use the resources you have, and then criminal elements can come later.”

Allen did note that if the boys were several years older, the department would "probably be speaking differently and doing it the reverse route."

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'Extremely intoxicated' teen shoots entire family dead, then calls 911 to confess to quadruple murder: Police



A New Mexico teen shot dead his entire family and then drunkenly dialed 911 to confess to the quadruple murder, according to local police.

Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office reportedly received a 911 call from 16-year-old Diego Leyva. The teen allegedly told the 911 dispatcher that he killed his entire family.

'I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this.'

The New Mexico State Police Department said in a statement, "When deputies arrived, Diego walked out of the residence with his hands in the air and was extremely intoxicated."

Leyva reportedly was taken into custody without incident.

Deputies walked into the home and found Leonardo Leyva, 42, Adriana Bencomo, 35, Adrian Leyva, 16, and Alexander Leyva, 14, all dead from suspected gunshot wounds.

Police discovered a handgun on the kitchen table.

Leyva was taken to a nearby hospital for detox and then was booked into a juvenile justice center in Albuquerque around 1 a.m. Sunday.

Leyva has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. Agents with the New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau and Crime Scene Team have launched an investigation into the motive.

Bencomo, one of the victims, was an active volunteer firefighter with the Rio Communities Fire Department and had served for many years.

The Valencia County Fire Department released a statement on behalf of the Rio Communities Fire Department saying that "the Valencia County community experienced a tragic incident yesterday morning. New Mexico State Police has arrested and charged a suspect with the homicide of his family."

"Our brothers and sisters at Rio Communities Fire Department are shocked and saddened by this loss as expected," the statement also read. "We thank the community for its ongoing support, and more information will be put out when it becomes available."

A former teacher of the suspect said she was in complete disbelief in regard to the incident.

"I would never have thought that something like this would happen and that Diego would be capable of doing something like this," Vanessa LaGrange told the Guardian. "Everyone's in shock."

LaGrange said students are planning to wear black at school to mourn the victims.

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FBI asking public's help in case of women reportedly murdered, 5-year-old girl shot, and 10-month-old baby abducted in New Mexico



There is a local, state, and federal investigation into the tragic case of two women reportedly murdered, a 5-year-old shot, and a 10-month-old baby abducted in New Mexico.

Around 4:26 p.m. on May 3, police were notified that there were two injured females at Ned Houk Park in Clovis, New Mexico. The two women were dead from gunshot wounds at the crime scene near a silver Dodge minivan, according to police.

A 5-year-old girl was also allegedly found at the crime scene suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The girl was rushed to the local Plains Regional Medical Center. The girl was later transferred to a hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

Clovis Police Department Deputy Chief Trevor Thron said the 5-year-old girl was receiving care and recovering.

There was an infant car seat, an infant stroller, and a small baby bottle left at the crime scene.

Also, a 10-month-old baby was allegedly stolen from the alleged murder scene. Authorities named the infant as Eleia Maria Torres.

Police issued an Amber Alert for the baby on Friday.

The baby has brown eyes, brown hair, is 28 inches tall, and weighs 23 pounds, according to officials.

Police identified both women from Texico as Samantha Cisneros, 23, and Taryn Allen, 23.

Investigators believe that Cisneros is the mother of the abducted 10-month-old and the injured 5-year-old.

ABC News reported, "The identity of the suspect is currently unknown, however, officials said the suspect may be in a maroon Honda car, of an unknown model."

Clovis Police Department Chief Roy Rice stated on Sunday, "We need to show our community’s support. There have been a lot of tragic events, and a lot of people are damaged and are victims in this. And we’re here to help them."

An investigation is ongoing.

Albuquerque FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda urged the public to come forward with information regarding the "horrific acts."

The Clovis Police Department said in a statement: "We ask you to contact the Clovis Police Department at 575-769-1921. The Clovis Police Department also would like to remind you that information can be provided anonymously by using the Clovis Police Department’s tip411 program, accessed by going to www.police.cityofclovis.org. Anonymous tips can also be provided to the Curry County Crime Stoppers at 575-763-7000."

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Amber alert issued for 10-month-old girl out of Clovis www.youtube.com


Sonic employee arrested after customer found cocaine after biting into a hot dog: Police



In a shocking incident in New Mexico, an employee of popular fast-food chain Sonic was arrested after a customer found a bag of cocaine with their hot dog order, according to police.

Around 3 p.m. on May 30, a female customer went to the Sonic fast-food restaurant in the San Pedro community and ordered a "coney," which is a hot dog covered in chili and cheese. The customer received the hot dog from the Sonic drive-thru.

The woman bit into the hot dog and then realized that she chewed into a plastic bag with a white powder, according to an incident report from the Espanola Police Department. The police report noted that the woman did not believe that she got any powder in her mouth. The unidentified woman contacted the police after biting into the tainted hot dog.

Police said that the suspicious bag on the hot dog contained "illegal narcotics." A field test confirmed the substance was cocaine.

The Espanola Police Department arrested 54-year-old Sonic employee Jeffrey David Salazar.

The affidavit for the arrest warrant noted that Salazar was seen on video conducting "what appeared to be a hand-to-hand transaction with a female employee," according to Fox News. Surveillance camera footage caught Salazar then began making food for an order before appearing to frantically search his work area "as if he lost something."

During questioning with authorities, Salazar admitted to police that he purchased cocaine from someone in the Sonic parking lot, according to the arrest warrant.

Salazar faces the felony charge of possession of a controlled substance.

The Espanola Police Department thanked management at the Sonic restaurant for their "immediate response" in this case. The management at the fast-food restaurant assisted law enforcement during the investigation by providing surveillance video that allegedly incriminated Salazar.

The customer is being represented by Merit Bennet of the Bennett Law Group who said they plan on submitting a claim once the reports are confirmed, according to the Daily Mail.

Earlier this week, Sonic was in the headlines after an employee was attacked by customers. The manager of a Sonic fast-food restaurant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, suffered serious injuries after two angry customers violently attacked him because their food order had been prepared incorrectly.

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