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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks.

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty 'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks.

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:10 pm

From Meridith Edwards, Rick Martin and Melissa Gray, CNN
updated 10:54 AM EST, Tue January 22, 2013

(CNN) -- Sheriff's investigators combed through what one called a "horrific" crime scene Sunday after the shooting deaths of five people, three of them children, at a home outside Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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.

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Last edited by Wrapitup on Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:21 pm; edited 1 time in total
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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty New Mexico Teen Who Killed Family Planned to Shoot Up Walmart

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:19 pm



By COLLEEN CURRY
Jan. 22, 2013

The New Mexico teenager who used an assault rifle to kill his mother, father and younger siblings told police he hoped to shoot up a Walmart after the family rampage and cause "mass destruction."

Police said they are also considering charging the shooter's 12-year-old girlfriend.

According to new information released by police today, Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks before he acted on the impulse on Sunday.

"Nehemiah said after killing five of his family members he reloaded the weapons so that he could drive to a populated area to murder more people," a police report from the incident stated.

"Nehemiah stated he wanted to shoot people at random and eventually be killed while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement," the report said.

The shooting spree began shortly around 1 a.m. on Sunday, when Griego snuck into his parents' bedroom while his mother, Sara Griego, was asleep. There he raided the closet where the family kept their guns, and immediately used a .22 rifle to kill her, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.

Griego's 9-year-old brother was sleeping with his mother at the time and woke up. When Griego told the boy his mother was dead, the youngster didn't believe him, according to a police report.

"So Nehemiah picked up his mother's head to show his brother her bloody face," the report states. "Nehemiah stated his brother became so upset so he shot his brother in the head."

He then went into his sisters' bedroom. "Nehemiah stated when he entered he noticed that his sisters were crying and he shot them in the head," the police report states. The girls were 5 and 2 years old.

The teenager waited for his father to come from his overnight shift working at a nearby rescue mission. When his father, Greg Griego, walked into the home around 5 a.m., unaware of what had taken place, Griego shot him multiple times with the AR-15 rifle, Sheriff Dan Houston said today.

Greg Griego was a former church pastor at Calvary Church in Albuquerque, and worked as a chaplain at a local jail where he counseled convicts. The family was very involved in the church, according to its website.

The complaint said Griego took a photo of his dead mother and "sent it to his girlfriend."

Griego then packed up the guns, including two shotguns, as well as ammunition for the rifles, and planned to drive to a Walmart to shoot additional people.

Houston said today that Griego called his 12-year-old girlfriend Sunday and ended up spending the entire day with her rather than going to the Walmart. Around 8 p.m. on Sunday, the pair drove to Calvary Church, and Griego said his family had died in a car crash. Someone on the church's staff then called 911, Houston said.

"At this time, Nehemiah had been contemplating this for some time. The information that Nehemiah had contemplated going to the local Walmart and participating in a shooting in there is accurate," Houston said. "There is no information at all that he went to church to cause anyone bodily harm there. The suspect also contemplated killing his girlfriend's parents."

The girlfriend's name was not released, but police are investigating whether to press any charges against her, Houston said. Houston said she had some knowledge about the deaths during the day Sunday.

Griego told cops he sent a picture of his dead mother to his girlfriend after the murder.

Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Griego home around 9:15 p.m. on Sunday and arrived 10 minutes later, where they found the five bodies.

Griego lied to investigators about the attack, telling them he came home around 5 a.m. that morning and found his family dead. He said he then took the guns to protect himself.

Griego quickly admitted to the crime when pressed by police, telling investigators he was "frustrated" with his mother. Deputies said he was "unemotional" and "very stern" during the confession.

"The motive was purely that he was frustrated with his mother. He could not articulate to our investigators any farther," Houston said. "In the time our investigators spent with him, it was a very casual (statement), he was just frustrated with how things were, and would not even articulate any further details of that frustration."

"It's horrific," Houston added.

A police report from the incident shows that Griego admitted to having "homicidal and suicidal thoughts" in the time leading up to the incident.

Griego reportedly gushed to police about his love for violent video games during the interrogation, Houston said. He told police he loved to play Modern Warfare and Grand Theft Auto.

"The suspect was involved heavily in games, violent games, it's what he was into," Houston said. "He was quite excited as he discussed this with our investigators."

Houston said that Griego had occasionally lost touch with his family and then reconnected with them multiple times in his life. He told investigators that his father had taught him how to shoot the weapons and the pair had practiced shooting them together.

Griego has five older siblings who were not living at the home at the time of the shooting and were unharmed.

He is facing murder and child abuse charges and will be tried as an adult, according to police.

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He should be charged w/5 counts of murder. The laws are Very lax in NM.
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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Nehemiah Griego

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:23 pm

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty New Mexico teen suspected of slaughtering family allegedly planned to kill strangers

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:30 pm

By Joseph J. Kolb
Published January 21, 2013
FoxNews.com

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – The teen suspected of gunning down his parents and three siblings in their New Mexico home told police he reloaded his assault rifle and was planning to go to a “populated area to murder more people,” police said.

Nehemiah Griego, 15, who local residents described as a loner who always wore camouflage military fatigues, told police he had been plagued by “suicidal and homicidal thoughts,” according to a sworn affidavit provided to prosecutors by the arresting officer and obtained by FoxNews.com.

“Nehemiah said after killing five of his family members, he reloaded the weapons so that he could drive to a populated area to murder more people,” the report states. “Nehemiah stated he wanted to shoot people at random and eventually be killed while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement.”

Griego has been charged with five counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death. Now, that makes more sense. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to charge him as an adult.

Police say he killed his parents, Greg and Sara Griego, and three of their children with an assault rifle. The report says Griego, who waived having an attorney present, described how he first killed his mother, then the siblings, ages 2, 5 and 9, before lying in wait for his father in the wee hours.

At some point, he said he took a picture of his dead mother and emailed it to his girlfriend, who either called 911 or told a family member who did. When police arrived, they found an AR-15 assault rifle and a .22 caliber rifle with a scope in a vehicle at the home. The youth told police the guns came from his parents' closet.

The youth, who is listed in the police report as just 5-foot-8 and 105 pounds, initially told police he came home early Saturday after being at a friend’s house for several days and found his family dead in the locked home. But police say his story quickly unraveled and he confessed.

Police still could not say what sparked the violent rampage. Local residents said the teen was almost always seen by himself and wore military-style clothing. Griego was not registered as a student with the Albuquerque Public School District, but police could not confirm if he had dropped out or was being home-schooled.

Griego appears in an online dating site called [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] wearing military fatigues with the comment: "I'm a fun-loving guy who [likes] to make [people] happy; I might be shy but I'll open up once you get to know me." The site does not correctly list his age.

A spokesman for the New Mexico child welfare agency said the agency had had no contacts with the boy or his family. The Associated Press reported finding no records indicating the teen had ever been involved with the juvenile justice system, and investigators say there was no history of any emergency calls to the home in the recent past.

Greg Griego, who was 51, was a pastor of a local church before taking a leave of absence and had volunteered as chaplain for the Metropolitan Detention Center. Sara Griego was 40, and the children, Zephania, Jael and Angelina, were 9, 5 and 2, respectively.

"All of the victims appeared to have been shot multiple times," Aaron Williamson, spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department, told FoxNews.com.

District Attorney Kari Brandeburg's office will weigh whether to prosecute the 15-year-old Griego as an adult or minor. He was set to be arraigned on Tuesday.

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Teen homicide suspect to be tried as an adult. Nehemiah Griego accused of killing parents, 3 siblings

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:37 pm

UPDATED 6:16 PM MST Jan 22, 2013

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —The 15-year-old boy accused of slaying his parents and three siblings early Saturday morning will be tried as an adult, Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said.

In this uncut clip, Bernalillo County investigators talk about Nehemiah Griego playing violent video games.

In this uncut clip, Bernalillo County investigators talk about how four guns ended up in the Griego home.
(please go to link below)

The 15-year-old accused of slaying his parents and three siblings early Saturday morning did so because he was ‘frustrated,’ Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said at a Tuesday news conference.

Nehemiah Griego, 15, faces five first-degree murder charges and three charges of child abuse resulting in death.

Brandenburg said she and the public defender agreed on a no-bond hold for Griego.

He was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday, but his appearance was waived. The district attorney said that is not unusual.

Both sides are now preparing for a grand jury hearing.

"We never had a case like this, as far as I know, in the state of New Mexico. So I can't compare this to any other case," Brandenburg said. "There will be different issues. There may be different evaluations from psychologists, medical personnel. I can't anticipate what the defense will do, but it's different when you have a juvenile versus an adult."


Each count that Griego faces holds a maximum sentence of 30 years.

However, because the case involves a juvenile, the judge is allowed more discretion when sentencing.

"A regular adult would be facing mandatory time. A juvenile may not, because court can decided a mandatory is not mandatory," Brandenburg said.

The district attorney also addressed questions about Griego's 12-year-old girlfriend, who reportedly knew about the killings before anyone else.

Brandenburg said her team is looking into whether that girl will face any charges.

Griego's case will go in front of a grand jury in 10 days.

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Must-see videos above.
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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Griego Family Statement

Post by Wrapitup Tue Jan 22, 2013 10:43 pm

Updated: Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013, 9:27 PM MST
Published : Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013, 9:16 PM MST

“Our family is heartbroken over this senseless tragedy. We have not been able to comprehend what led to this incredibly sad situation. However, we are deeply concerned about the portrayal in some media of Nehemiah as some kind of a monster.

It is clear to those of us who know and love him that something went terribly wrong. Whether it was a mental breakdown or some deeper undiagnosed psychological issue, we can’t be sure yet. What we do know is that none of us, even in our wildest nightmare, could have imagined that he could do something like this.

There is so much more to the Nehemiah we know than what the media is portraying. We know him as a bright, curious, and incredibly talented young man. He was a brother, nephew, grandson, and cousin.

From the time he was a young boy, his father Greg supported his love for music. Thanks to his interest, practice and natural ability, Nehemiah has become a very accomplished musician. He plays guitar, drums and bass. For years he has played at youth and other church services at Calvary and elsewhere.

The idea that he was a loner also has been manufactured by the media and those who simply did not know him. He had many friends at Calvary where he spent most of his free time playing basketball or music . Like his father, who was a champion wrestler and coach, Nehemiah also competed in wrestling tournaments throughout the state and country.

His parents were always involved at Calvary, and Nehemiah shared their commitment to community service. He accompanied his father on missions to Mexico, where they helped local faith communities. He helped with Calvary’s youth ministry and played his guitar or drums whenever someone needed him, including his aunt’s wedding. At home, he helped care for his younger siblings and the many animals the family kept.

Like his great grandfather, grandfather, father, and several aunts, uncles and cousins who are either veterans or on active duty, he wanted to serve his country. Because of this long family tradition of military service, he wanted to enlist when he was old enough. He dreamed of attending NMMI and talked of studying engineering or history. The pictures of him being circulated in his dad’s old fatigues were part of his interest in someday being a soldier.

To be clear, our family has differing views on gun rights and gun control. What we do agree on is that those who wish to score political points should not use a confused, misguided, 15-year old boy to make their case.

We ask those in the media and those who would use the media to make their political case, to not use Nehemiah as a pawn for ratings or to score political points. He is a troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever.

Five lives have been senselessly and needlessly ended. Ruining one more without trying to get to the bottom of what really happened and more importantly --why - -would be equally tragic.”

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Alleged Teen Killer Nehemiah Griego's Girlfriend Cleared in Family Murders

Post by Wrapitup Wed Jan 23, 2013 2:32 pm

By MICHAEL S. JAMES (@bymsj) and COLLEEN CURRY
Jan. 23, 2013


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The 12-year-old girlfriend of Nehemiah Griego who allegedly killed five members of his family was interviewed by police today and cleared of possible complicity in the rampage.

Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, used two rifles to kill his mother, three siblings, and his father early Sunday morning, and loaded his van with the guns and ammunition he planned to use to shoot up a Walmart later that day, according to cops.

Griego also said he sent a picture of his mother's dead body to his girlfriend, whose name has not been released. Griego then spent the rest of Sunday with the girl and her family, according to police.

Griego and his girlfriend eventually went to Calvary Church in Albuquerque around 8 p.m. Sunday, nearly 18 hours after the spree began. There, Griego told church members his family had died in a car accident, prompting a church member to call police.

Police said Tuesday they were investigating whether the girl could face charges in connection with the crimes, but said today she would not.

"She has just been interviewed and she will not be facing any charges," Deputy Aaron Williamson, spokesman for the sheriff's office.

Investigators who went directly to Griego's house found the five family members dead at the home. Griego was found with a .22 rifle, an AR-15 rifle, two shotguns, and rifle ammunition in his van around the same time. After initially denying to police that he had anything to do with the murders, he admitted to killing the family members out of "frustration" with his mother.

He also told police he planned to shoot up a Walmart after killing his family, and that he also planned to kill his girlfriend's parents.

"Nehemiah said after killing five of his family members he reloaded the weapons so that he could drive to a populated area to murder more people," read a police report from the incident released Tuesday.

"Nehemiah stated he wanted to shoot people at random and eventually be killed while exchanging gunfire with law enforcement," the report said.

Relatives of Griego are described as stunned by his actions and "heartbroken over this senseless tragedy."

Though surviving relatives conceded in an unsigned "family statement" that Nehemiah Griego is a "troubled young man," the statement also described him as an outgoing boy who loved music and hoped one day to serve in the military.

"We know him as a bright, curious and incredibly talented young man. He was a brother, nephew, grandson and cousin," said the statement, obtained by the ABC News affiliate KOAT in Albuquerque from former New Mexico state Sen. Eric Griego, the suspect's uncle.

"We are deeply concerned about the portrayal in some media of Nehemiah as some kind of a monster," said the statement. "It is clear to those of us who know and love him that something went terribly wrong. Whether it was a mental breakdown or some deeper undiagnosed psychological issue, we can't be sure yet. What we do know is that none of us, even in our wildest nightmare, could have imagined that he could do something like this."

Griego is expected to face adult charges of murder and child abuse resulting in death. He waived his right to arraignment in adult court Tuesday and a judge ordered him held without bond.

The district attorney's office and Griego's public defender now are preparing to face a grand jury, KOAT reported.

"We never had a case like this, as far as I know, in the state of New Mexico," District Attorney Kari Brandenburg said, "so I can't compare this to any other case."

Griego has five older siblings who were not living at the home at the time of the shooting and were unharmed.

Eric Griego, the uncle who released the family statement, also released family photos late Tuesday, including one of his nephew in a tuxedo at a wedding and another of him playing a drum kit.

"From the time he was a young boy, his father Greg supported his love for music," the family statement said. "Thanks to his interest, practice and natural ability, Nehemiah has become a very accomplished musician. He plays guitar, drums and bass. For years he has played at youth and other church services at Calvary and elsewhere.

"The idea that he was a loner also has been manufactured by the media and those who simply did not know him," the statement said. "He had many friends at Calvary where he spent most of his free time playing basketball or music. Like his father, who was a champion wrestler and coach, Nehemiah also competed in wrestling tournaments throughout the state and country."

The statement noted that several family members were military veterans.

"Pictures of [Nehemiah Griego] being circulated in his dad's old fatigues were part of his interest in someday being a soldier," the family statement noted.

The shooting spree began shortly around 1 a.m. on Sunday, when Griego allegedly snuck into his parents' bedroom while his mother, Sara Griego, was asleep. There he raided the closet where the family kept their guns, and immediately used a .22 rifle to kill her, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.

Griego's 9-year-old brother was sleeping with his mother at the time and woke up. When Griego told the boy his mother was dead, the youngster didn't believe him, according to a police report.

"So Nehemiah picked up his mother's head to show his brother her bloody face," the report said. "Nehemiah stated his brother became so upset so he shot his brother in the head."

He then went into his sisters' bedroom, police said.

"Nehemiah stated when he entered he noticed that his sisters were crying and he shot them in the head," the police report said.

The girls were 5 and 2 years old.


The teenager waited for his father to come from his overnight shift working at a nearby rescue mission. When his father walked into the home around 5 a.m., unaware of what had taken place, Griego shot him multiple times with the AR-15 rifle, Houston said Tuesday.

Besides being a former pastor at Calvary Church, Greg Griego worked as a chaplain at a local jail where he counseled convicts. The family was very involved in the church, according to its website.

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty New Mexico mulls new gun laws after teen charged in family's murder

Post by Wrapitup Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:33 pm

By Joseph J. Kolb
Published January 23, 2013
FoxNews.com

SANTA FE, New Mexico – While a 15-year-old New Mexico boy faces charges of murdering five family members with his father's gun, state lawmakers are weighing two measures that show just how divided the state is on firearms.

One measure would require background checks for all gun sales, while another would allow concealed weapons to be carried into bars and restaurants. And lawmakers on both sides of the issue say they will not be swayed by the alleged actions of Nehemiah Griego, who is accused of killing his mother, father and three siblings on Jan. 19 in their Albuquerque home. Former state Sen. Eric Griego, the boy's uncle, said he and his murdered brother disagreed about gun control. But he said the shootings are not part of the legislative debate.

"I don't think the deal in Albuquerque will change anyone's minds."
- New Mexico Rep. Zach Cook

"To be clear, our family has differing views on gun rights and gun control," Eric Griego said in a statement. "What we do agree on is that those who wish to score political points should not use a confused, misguided 15-year old boy to make their case."

State Rep. Zach Cook, a Republican, is sponsoring a bill that would allow licensed owners to carry concealed handguns into restaurants and liquor establishments. Although he dropped language that would have extended the conceal-and-carry law to schools and hotels, he said the real threat comes from "the sick element of society" that uses guns irresponsibly. Asked how the Griego tragedy might affect the legislative session, Cook predicted poignant discussions but little effect on lawmakers' votes. So, you can carry a concealed weapon into a liquor establishment but not a hotel?? Speechless!!
"I don't think the deal in Albuquerque will change anyone's minds," Cook said.

The young suspect told police he was plagued by homicidal and suicidal thoughts prior to shooting his mother, three siblings ranging in age from 2 to 9, and then lying in wait to kill his father with Greg Griego's assault rifle. Police say he also had planned to go to an area Walmart and shoot innocent people until police gunned him down, but that phase of his plan was thwarted when a family friend learned of the killings and alerted police.

Nehemiah's father, Greg Griego, was an active minister in the Albuquerque community who helped the youth and served his church. But he also was a former gang member who kept at least four guns in the home that were not kept locked or secured, according to sources. A spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said there was no indication of felony convictions that would have precluded Griego from possessing weapons.

The other measure being considered by New Mexico lawmakers is one sponsored by Democrat Rep. Miguel Garcia, of Bernalillo County, the same county where the family massacre occurred. Like Cook, Garcia says he is concerned with the mental health of gun owners, but his bill calls for mandatory checks into the mental health and criminal backgrounds of potential buyers at gun shows and private purchases. Felons, fugitives and the mentally ill would not be able to legally purchase guns.

Nehemiah Griego is awaiting a grand jury in Albuquerque District Court, where prosecutors plan to try him as an adult.

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty New Mexico teen Nehemiah Griego was 'heavily involved' in violent video games; relatives say he was 'troubled young man'

Post by Wrapitup Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:15 pm

BY ERIK ORTIZ / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 2013, 1:00 PM

The 15-year-old accused of gunning down his family was “unemotional” during his confession, but gushed when he spoke about violent video games, New Mexico police said.

The revelation sheds more light on alleged shooter Nehemiah Griego, whose relatives are describing as a “troubled young man” but not a monster.

“It is clear to those of us who know and love him that something went terribly wrong,” the family said in a statement Tuesday. “Whether it was a mental breakdown or some deeper undiagnosed psychological issue, we can’t be sure yet. What we do know is that none of us, even in our wildest nightmare, could have imagined that he could do something like this.”

Prosecutors said Griego will stand trial as an adult for the murders of his father Greg Griego, 51; mother Sarah Griego, 40; and three younger siblings, Zephania, 9, Jael, 5, and Angelina, 2, in their South Valley home Saturday.

Nehemiah Griego's family are disputing reports that describe him as a loner and say he had 'many friends' at the church in Albuquerque, N.M., where his father was a former pastor.

Griego plotted the murders for a week before unleashing his carnage with multiple weapons, including a .22 rifle and an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department said.

After his arrest, he told investigators he was “frustrated” with his mother, but only seemed to show emotion when he spoke about video games he loved, such as “Modern Warfare” and “Grand Theft Auto.”

“It was kind of what he was into and was quite excited as he got the opportunity to discuss that with investigators,” Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston told reporters Tuesday.

Gregory Griego, a former pastor at the Calvary Albuquerque church, was killed Saturday, along with his wife and three children. They each suffered multiple gunshot wounds, police say.

The issue of violent video games and media was raised by the National Rifle Association last month in response to the rampage in Newtown, Conn., that left 28 people dead, including 20 school children and the shooter.

Gunman Adam Lanza had reportedly kept thousands of dollars worth of violent video games in his home.

NRA leader Wayne LaPierre said “vicious, violent video games” — and not guns — are to blame, in part, for America’s violent culture.

First-person shooters such as 'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3' have been blamed for perpetuating violence.

But David Ewoldsen, a communications professor at Ohio State University, said that time spent playing video games can’t be the only factor in how violently a person might snap.

Murdering people “would suggest there’s some type of underlying mental disorder there,” said Ewoldsen, who studies the genre. “You can sit down Gandhi and have him play ‘Grand Theft Auto’ for weeks and he’s not going to hurt somebody.”


Studies have shown no definitive connection between playing violent video games and a violent society.

“By and large, video games have much less an impact on us than people like to think. Neither are they homicide generators nor are they saving the world and making us smarter,” said Christopher Ferguson, the chair of Texas A&M International University's department of psychology and communication.

He added that video games get a bad rap because they're automatically associated with violence among young people.

“Odds are there will be more shootings and this issue will come up again," Ferguson said.

The entrance to the South Valley, N.M., home where Greg Griego, his wife Sarah, and their three children were slain, allegedly by the couple's 15-year-old son, Nehemiah Griego.

Officials didn’t say how much time Griego, who was homeschooled, might have spent playing video games.

His relatives, however, disputed reports that he was a loner and only wore camouflage gear. Griego had a girlfriend whom he spent the day with after killing his family, authorities said.

“He had many friends at Calvary (church) where he spent most of his free time playing basketball or music,” said the unsigned statement provided to ABC affiliate KOAT in Albuquerque. “Like his father, who was a champion wrestler and coach, Nehemiah also competed in wrestling tournaments throughout the state and country.”

They added that he enjoyed wearing his dad's military fatigues because he wanted to be a soldier like others in his family. New photos released by Griego's uncle, Eric Griego, a former New Mexico state senator, show the boy smirking in a suit and sitting behind a drum kit — apparently happier times in his life.

Relatives called him a "troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever."

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Re: 'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks.

Post by Wrapitup Fri Jan 25, 2013 4:04 pm

UPDATED: Statement From Nehemiah Griego’s Attorneys

By Jeff Proctor / Journal Staff Writer on Thu, Jan 24, 2013
POSTED: 2:41 pm
LAST UPDATED: 2:11 pm

Jeff Buckels and Lee Hood of the New Mexico Public Defender Department, who are representing accused teen shooter Nehemiah Griego, issued a statement this evening on the case. Here it is, in full:

“PRESS RELEASE (1/24/13)
RUSH TO JUDGMENT IN CASE OF NEHEMIAH GRIEGO

Nehemiah Griego is represented by the Public Defender Department of the State of New Mexico. The members of the Department join the Albuquerque community in extending their condolences to the Griego family, their friends and their church, as we all struggle with this tragedy.

There is danger of a rush to judgment. Day by day this week, the Sheriff’s Department has been speaking of a “massive” and “on-going” investigation, while parceling out very limited bits of the most damaging supposed “facts.” This has led directly to a multitude of sensational headlines that threaten to finish Nehemiah’s case in the public mind before it has fairly begun. But spokesmen for law enforcement are not only presenting selected, inflammatory fragments of “information.” They are also publicizing opinions concerning motive, judgments that the case is “beyond human reasoning or understanding,” and a theory that Nehemiah planned horrific acts of violence at “Walmart.” This theory is repeated and repeated even though Nehemiah appears to have had every chance to carry out such a “plan,” but did not.

These are early days. Much in-depth work needs to be done before anyone can speak meaningfully about Nehemiah’s mental state, motives or “plans.” This work must include the completion of the “massive and on-going” police investigation, the discovery of the entirety of that investigation to the defense, and a thorough and independent defense investigation. The defense will surely engage in extensive consultations with experts in the areas of mental health and the effects of violent video games on vulnerable boys. None of this work has been completed and nothing will be done in a day. It is far too soon to know the meaning of this tragedy, and far too soon to judge. This is the time for diligent inquiry and calm reflection. It is a very good time for restraint in public statements.

Jeff Buckels

Lee Hood

N.M. Public Defender Department”

Eric Griego, a former state senator and Albuquerque city councilor and the brother of one of five slain in the South Valley last weekend, broke his silence last night on HLN’s “Dr. Drew On Call.”

Griego’s nephew, 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego, has been charged with five counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death. Citing a confession Nehemiah Griego gave with no attorney or adult present, sheriff’s investigators say the teen killed his mother, his 9-year-old brother, his 5- and 2-year-old sisters and his father, 51-year-old former pastor Greg Griego in the family’s South Valley home early Saturday.

That clip doesn’t show other parts of the interview. But, according to local television reports, Griego questioned during the interview the potential role in the killings of his nephew’s 12-year-old girlfriend, with whom Nehemiah reportedly exchanged a series of text messages — including a photograph of 40-year-old Sarah Griego’s dead body.

Sheriff’s officials have said the girl is not facing any charges at this time.

The Journal asked for Houston’s response to the statements Eric Griego made to Pinsky. Here’s the full text of a news release the Sheriff’s Office issued this afternoon:

“In light of the recent tragedy that took the lives of five members of the Griego Family, Sheriff Dan Houston is understanding of the overwhelming grief of the Griego family. This tragedy has shocked our community as well as our nation. Out of respect for the Griego family Sheriff Houston has refused several requests for interviews including CNN, Good Morning America, and Piers Morgan. Eric Griego recently appeared on a nationally syndicated talk show, and as a result, the Sheriff has received new requests for interviews today in response to statements apparently made by Mr. Griego. Sheriff Houston stands by the facts as presented in the investigation of this horrific case. The Sheriff acknowledges that in the future it may be appropriate to discuss this matter but with pending funerals, this is not the time.”

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty More than 2,000 honor slain NM family

Post by Wrapitup Sun Jan 27, 2013 8:27 pm

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013, 12:10 PM

Nehemiah Griego has been charged in the brutal killings of mother, father and three siblings.

More than 2,000 people gathered at an Albuquerque church to remember five members of a New Mexico family gunned down in their home last weekend. There were also prayers for the 15-year-old son and brother charged with the killings.

Following a police escort, chaplains and members of the Albuquerque Fire Department lined the procession. Bagpipes played at the memorial service Friday and the urns of former pastor Greg Griego, his wife Sarah and their three young children were carried into the one of the city's largest churches.

Family members recalled Greg Griego's lumbering walk, his hearty laugh and his endless commitment to helping others to turn their lives around. His wife, known for her cooking, and their children were just as much a part of that ministry. The family was always a front-row fixture at church services.

The crowd prayed for the Griegos and for their son Nehemiah, who remains in custody.

Annette Griego, one of Greg Griego's adult daughters, told those at the service that her father was a man whose heart was after God.

"My dad never gave up on me. He never gave up on any of us. He never stopped giving us Jesus and so I know he would want us to do the exact same thing for our brother, Nehemiah," she said. "So if you wonder where we stand, we stand alongside our brother."

"We stand confident that God will take this tragedy and use it for something good," she said.

News of the slayings has reverberated throughout the community, where Greg Griego — a former gang member turned pastor — was known for his work with jail inmates, his service at local rescue missions and his spiritual guidance for firefighters and members of the military.

Friends said Greg Griego and his teenage son went on missions to Mexico and that the boy was a talented drummer who played with the church's youth band.

On Friday, family, friends and members of the Calvary Albuquerque church who watched the boy grow up continued to struggle, trying to make sense of the tragedy.

Nehemiah Griego was just a normal teen to Vince Harrison, a former police officer who had known the family for about 10 years through his security work at the church.

"He did not fit the criteria of a kid who was crazy into guns and wanted to hurt people. That's absolutely false," Harrison said.

Nehemiah Griego is facing murder and child abuse charges in the deaths of his parents and three younger siblings — all found shot to death inside their rural home south of Albuquerque on Jan. 19.

Detectives were at the home for two days collecting evidence. They also have been reviewing text messages and calls between the boy and his 12-year-old girlfriend and security video from Calvary, where the teen apparently spent much of the day following the early morning shootings.

After the killings, authorities allege that Nehemiah Griego reloaded his parents' two semi-automatic rifles and put them in the family van and planned to gun down Wal-Mart shoppers.

Public defender Jeff Buckels said he will consult with mental health experts and investigate the effects of violent video games. Authorities have said Griego liked to play "Modern Warfare" and "Grand Theft Auto."

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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Nehemiah Griego indicted in family’s murders

Post by Wrapitup Tue Feb 05, 2013 11:21 pm

UPDATED 4:29 PM MST Feb 04, 2013

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —The 15-year-old Albuquerque teen arrested for the January shooting deaths of his parents and three siblings was indicted Monday by a Bernalillo County grand jury.

The 15-year-old accused of slaying his parents and three siblings early Saturday morning did so because he was ‘frustrated,’ Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston said at a Tuesday news conference.

The case against Nehemiah Griego was presented to the grand jury on Monday. The jury charged Griego with five-counts of first-degree murder and three counts of child abuse.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Griego Jan. 20 after they found the bodies of his family in their South Valley home. The sheriff’s office said Griego admitted to killing his family because he was “frustrated” with his mother.

Even though Griego is a minor, he’s being charged as an adult under New Mexico's Serious Youthful Offender statute.

The teen will be scheduled for arraignment before a District Court judge. A date for that arraignment has not been set.

The Griego family released the following statement after the indictment:

“Greg and Sarah Griego dedicated their lives to reaching out to people who were considered by some to be unredeemable. Our entire family is united in our belief that justice for our family and for Greg and his family will not be served by trying Nehemiah as an adult or locking him up in an adult prison.

We feel strongly that Greg and his family would have wanted Nehemiah to take responsibility for his acts as a child within the juvenile system. Pursuing adult sanctions against Nehemiah is unjust and contrary to the victims’ wishes.

Nehemiah had no criminal record, no record of violence against others, and no previous threats of violence against others. He is only 15 years old and solid science on brain development demonstrates that as a juvenile he did not possess an adult capacity for decision making or consequences.

Moreover, the irresponsible way in which his confession was taken, with no adult in the room, no lawyer and no opportunity to speak to adult family members, has deeply damaged his right to a fair and impartial trial. The confession was promptly released to the media and has made him the subject of a public trial and conviction in the media before he has had a chance to even be evaluated by psychiatric professionals for his state of mind or ability to be tried at all.

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Post by Wrapitup Wed Jul 24, 2013 4:20 pm

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Updated: Wednesday, 24 Jul 2013, 7:47 AM MDT
Published : Tuesday, 23 Jul 2013, 11:04 PM MDT

Tina Jensen

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - It has been six months since New Mexicans first heard the news that 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego was arrested for the shooting deaths of his parents and three siblings.

Now, with his family still grieving, his future is unclear.

“Clearly, there was some sort of break or psychotic break that happened that night,” said Nehemiah’s aunt, and now guardian, Regina Griego.

Regina Griego is still grieving the death of her brother, Albuquerque pastor Greg Griego, and his family while trying to get the right mental health care for Nehemiah.

Regina visits Nehemiah at the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center every week.

“It's a cycle every week for me, to be reminded of the tragedy and the sadness of everything because I miss my brother a lot but I have such compassion for Nehemiah ,” Regina said.

It is that compassion that is driving her to fight for better mental health treatment for Nehemiah.

Regina says at the Juvenile Detention Center, he gets one hour of counseling a week and 15 minutes with a psychiatrist.

She was not allowed to see his medical records unless he signed them over.

“First of all, he's young, cognitively - to me, he's a child. And secondly, he's got some mental impairment,” Regina said. “So it has not made sense to me in any shape or form.”

Since then, Regina says Nehemiah has a working diagnosis with psychosis and dissociative disorders and has started medication.

“Now he has a full range of emotion,” Regina said. “He's missing his family. He obviously cries a lot about what happened.”

Regina says the Juvenile Detention Center is not the place for someone like Nehemiah, who needs intensive mental health care.

“It's a holding point. It's not really a healing point,” Regina said. “He's got to get to some mental health care facility to heal.”

No one knows the real reason for the killings, except for maybe Nehemiah .

Deputies say the homeschooled boy told them he was mad at his mom, but didn't say why.

His aunt believes he had undetected mental health issues and just snapped. She said maybe they were brought on by violent video games and easy access to his father's guns.

“This could happen to you,” Regina said. “I would advise parents to get smart on mental health. “We're doing it now, after the crisis. Do it before the crisis.”

The family has said if the 16-year-old is convicted in the case they hope he's sentenced as a juvenile, which would mean he'd be out of jail by age 21.

No trial date has been scheduled.

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Knowing NM the way I do and in particular, Albuquerque, this case will dragggg on and on for years. He probably Won't be charged as an adult and w/be out by 21 only to do more harm. MOO.
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'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks. Empty Re: 'Horrific' New Mexico shooting leaves 5 dead; investigators arrest Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old son of an Albuquerque pastor, had plans to kill his family, his girlfriend's family, and local Walmart shoppers for weeks.

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