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Courtesy of the Griego Family / Reuters
An undated family photo of Nehemiah Griego, the 15-year-old accused of killing his parents and three siblings. Surviving relatives say he may have suffered a mental breakdown.
Relatives of a New Mexico teen accused of killing his parents and three siblings say he's not a "monster" but a "misguided" boy who may have suffered a mental breakdown.
Police have portrayed Nehemiah Griego, 15, as an "unemotional" video-game fanatic who plotted a killing spree for more than a week because he was mad at his mother and emailed a photo of the slain woman to his 12-year-old girlfriend.
A statement released by an uncle, former state lawmaker Eric Griego, paints a far different picture of a "bright, curious and incredibly talented young man," describing him as a doting older brother who played the guitar and drums, ministered to other youths and hoped to one day join the military.
"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," the statement said.
"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."
The statement said that Nehemiah Griego was not a loner and only wore his dad's fatigues because of his interest in serving his country. It cautioned against anyone using the tragedy to make a point about gun control.
"He is a troubled young man who made a terrible decision that will haunt him and his family forever," it said. "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."
Bernalillo County
Nehemiah Griego, 15, in a booking photo after he was arrested for killing his parents and three siblings.
Bernalillo County authorities said Griego had not been diagnosed with any mental illness and was apparently not on drugs or alcohol when the family was slaughtered Saturday.
Using his father's .22 rifle and a AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, he allegedly shot his sleeping mother, killed his 9-year-old brother and then fatally shot two sisters, 5 and 2. Police say he lay in wait at least four hours for his father, Greg, a reformed gang member and chaplain, and then shot him dead.
According to a timeline provided by police, Griego sent his girlfriend a photo of his mother and later spent most of the day with her before going to church and telling officials there his family was dead.
At one point, he considered killing the girlfriend's parents, as well as shooting up a Walmart and dying in a firefight with cops, police said.
The 12-year-old girl has not been charged with a crime, but the investigation is continuing, sheriff's Deputy Aaron Williamson said Wednesday.
Prosecutors said they plan to try Griego in adult court, though he could face less jail time if convicted because of his age.
Griego had five older siblings who did not live at home and escaped harm.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston, at a press conference Tuesday, said 15-year-old Nehemiah Griego was "involved heavily in...violent games."
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"Misguided" are you kidding. I would think the kid is a bit more than misquided. He killed his younger brother and little sisters, he is a monster, period, all because he was mad at his mother. Yes, he is a monster and should never see the light of day,
exactly "misguided" is when you skip school, drinking, drugs, fighting, stealing, etc.. killing a family member and little helpless children = MONSTER !
you can't blame video's. the blame lays at the feet of there parents. lack of structure and no communication.
parents think about that word "parents" what does that mean.
we as a society are too busy to parent, sending your kid to school is not parenting its daycare were you hope they learn something.
parenting is to love, teach, raise and protect !
WE NEED TO TALK TO OUR CHILDREN AND HUG THEM !
I agree with you Siestasis. He is a monster.
And the news says he may serve less jail time because of his age? Just gives him another chance to go on another killing spree.
Uncle says "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." HA!!! The uncle is crazy.
Like many kids that age, he is a monster but more in the sense of an evil video game character.
Unless it's demonic possession, I vote for monster.
Monster ,can't think of a better description.No, no he's monster all right.
i was misguided.but i never killed anyone.this kid was a demented little turd.
I guess if his relatives don't consider him a monster that's okay, but whatever he is, he certainly committed a monstrous act!!
"... not a "monster" but a "misguided" boy who may have suffered a mental breakdown." Ya think!!!
Actually, the uncle exhibits a problem in these cases. The family (immediate and extended) either don't catch the warning signs or choose to ignore them (who wants to think their kid/nephew/niece would go on a psychopathic shooting rampage, taking out his family members and wanting to continue on a mass shooting rampage). Or they're afraid of the stigma of having a mentally ill child/relative (as if the stigma of having a relative that's a "mass murderer" is better). Teachers, preachers, and others can only do so much in trying to point out a troubled youth, but if the parents/family aren't willing to see it or hear it - and especially if they're not willing to consider the idea and try to get the child some help, we're going to continue to have these kind of news stories into the far future.
Over 500 gang related murders in Chicago, but let's SPOTLIGHT Obama's agenda of making Americans defenseless!
"... not a monster", "misguided", "... sufered a breakdown". No. Sometimes, the person really IS to blame for their actions.
You're his uncle and I applaud you for sticking up for your nephew. I can't imagine what your family is going through.
That said... this "kid" killed his mother while she slept, took a picture of her corpse and sent it to his girlfriend. Misguided teen? That's an understatement.
When his little brother came in the room, he made him look at his mother's corpse. When the kid started crying, he stopped his crying by shooting him in the head. Then he took out his 5 and 2 year old sisters while they slept.
Misguided? Teens who try marijuana are misguided. This kid is a MONSTER.
This kid killed your brother, your sister-in-law, 2 of your neices and a nephew. Yet you still made room for politics in your "statement", making sure we didn't use this tragedy to "make a point about gun control".
Why shouldn't we? You just did. Hell, your dead family members aren't even COLD yet, and you're issuing statements that reflect your concern about people "making a point about gun control"? WOW! I would think that at this horrible time your family's life, you have many more problems to worry about then what the rest of country is talking about.
Sorry. We should NOT turn a blind eye to the fact that this 15 year old kid had access to UNSECURED weapons, very powerful weapons. While that's a real issue worth talking about, as a family member, YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY. You should not be issuing statements that include stumping for the people who want NO change in the face of repeated, near-daily tragedies.
Harold... this kid was off his nut. I guess he could have used a hatchet or a hammer, but the family would be just as dead. The great travesty here is that the boy won't be punished. Yes, he will be in jail...as a minor. He will finish high school, maybe college. Then, when he is 21 his record is sealed and he will given a new identity and turned loose.
I hope he moves in with his uncle.
A hatchet or a hammer and somebody might have escaped. Also takes a lot more to kill someone with one of those than with a gun - A LOT messier.
What it comes down to is that a kid had access to guns and accomplished his goals a lot quicker and more efficiently than he could have otherwise.
I support the second amendment to a degree, but I really think people who don't store their guns properly (and out of the hands of minors) should be reported and prosecuted.
Research has shown that killers tend to use guns not only becasue of their availability but also becasue they are somewhat detached form the killings.
Almost like its the gun that did it not them. If they use a knife, or an axe it is more direct more personal contact between the killer and the victim.
Please note that the father is a reformed gang member and I believe alluded to in an earlier article was banned from owning guns, so here we have one crime piled on top of another.
The father illegally in possession of the weapons that eventually killed his family.
How did this huge family support itself, with that 3-home compound (complete with swimming pool)?
The father was so busy being a "man of God" (until he resigned his pastor job 8 months ago) ... and was recently volunteering at a homeless shelter?
Neighbors saw the boy dressed ALWAYS in fatigues. He was homeschooled, but his online writings are barely literate. One report said he was prohibited from playing video games and seeing violence.
Illegal guns, no visible means of support, huge 3-home compound with swimming pool, ten children, homeschooling.
What was really going on in that home?
"If they use a knife, or an axe it is more direct more personal contact between the killer and the victim."
You are exactly correct. With a knife, a hatchet, or a hammer, you have to get up-close-and-personal with the victim. You get blood and brains and all kind of other wet stuff all over you. With a gun, you can step back out of range of all the gore. You know, it's hard to attack with the knife(hammer/hatchet) when the victim is running or manages to lock a door between themselves and the attacker. With a gun, it's so much easier to take down someone that's out of reach. But the NRA-types and 2nd-amendment-at-all-costs supporters will never, ever admit to that.
John B-----he is not a monster, he is normal teenage boy after all he only killed his own blood and not other people. Too bad some one in his family did not solve his mineral deficiency. God help us all. He needs to receive the maximun sentence allowable. BTW John B you are a f$$$ a$$hole. You are obviously a wacked out liberal. James Madison insisted that the Bill of Rights be not just ammendements but rights that Congress shall not infringe upon. Can you say "Congress shall enact no laws that infringe upon these rights". Go take history of the US constitution class you moron.
He obviusly sufferred from a mineral imbalance. too bad that was not resolved to equalize his lead deficiency. Fry him becuase if he is ever released he will most repeat his actions. he is not only misguided he is evil and comes from bad seed.
Apparently "misguided" runs deep in this family. The uncle wrestles with it too.
Not a monster!? What do you call someone who shoots their mother, brother, sisters and waits for four hours to ambush their own father!? THAT is a monster!
Stop making excuses for this murderer and call him what he is: A MONSTER!
It is so predictable that family members will be in denial that their "little angels" could do horrible things that it is a total waste of electrons to post articles like this in the guise of news.
You would do the same with your family and yes you commented on a stupid story. Goodbye Negative Electron.........
yes he is an evil monster
The Bible should be banned!
Here are several really loving excerpts from the Torah; the first five books of the Old Testament in the bible -- perhaps read to the congregation on Friday night at a synagogue or a Sunday morning church in the meadow.
Rabbinical / Priestly rules:
Leviticus 21:17-18 … “No one who is blind or lame or has a defect or any blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God.”
Leviticus 18:22 … “You are not to go to bed with a man as with a woman; it is an abomination ….”
Rabbis; the pope and churches fully aware that Leviticus 18:22 applies to rabbis and priests … refuse to remove this stigma maliciously persecuting gays. Kids are being bullied into suicide …!
blah blah blah go pound some sand.
the scriptures you are citing have no bearing on this tragedy...have you ever been to church...the pastors and priests don't even read from the bible anymore...it is their own thoughts and teaching and beliefs....plus, those texts were directed to the nation of Israel to protect the Israelites from the pagan (didn't worship god) nations surrounding them and to keep their worship from idolatry. It was a serious matter back then. Those scriptures are about history and the Israelite people. What normal educated thinking person would ever read those verses and think it was OK to kill someone? Obviously you are just picking and chosing "texts" that you want to use for your own "agenda"
Monster? Yes. No doubt he will be rehabilitated in the prison system. Then released to murder again.
When people call monster decisions misquided they are doing everyone a disservice and that's why we have so many monsters---no one feels shame as a family anymore. It's anything goes that happens in video games. Total disconnect in America and WASTED generation thanks to the baby-boomers misguided 'hippy' days which has lead to this. How you like those freedoms now hippies?
Hippies?
This was a right-wing Christian family.
About as right-wing as they come.
Sorry, but yes he is. He might not have been some time in the past, but he has crossed a threshold, and is now a monster. Its official. get used to it. Look for the trait in your other family members. You all have a monster gene somewhere.
It definately is time that murderer's and their families start calling it what it is "misguided" hardly gets near it! This teenager killed his parents and 3 siblings and he's "misguided"? Who misguided him? Why do teenagers think the solution to all problems is to shoot someone or themselves?
Dear NBC,
Stop making these kids famous. Until the media stop broadcasting the faces and names, they will continue to try to one-up each other. You are giving them the ultimate social media post.
We gun owners are perfectly normal. It isn't like we have too many guns or that we're using them to kill people, its well, we need to have a warm gun nearby to make us feel happy. We can't help it if someone murders a family or the children in a school. I mean after all we have a law that was written more than 230 years ago that say we have a right to shoot you if we want. So get over it before I take my piece and lay you down.
BTW I just checked the Bill of Rights is still part of the US Constitution. It still says "Congress shall enact no law that infringes upon these rights" It is not just a law rather the law of the land. Move to another country if you dont like it, that is if they will take you. Maybe we could offer them some USD to take you.
Spoken like a true politician.
The first amendment is no more sacred than the second...we need to ban any violent act commited with a gun from prime time TV and movies. We also should make it illegal to broadcast the names of the offenders on any form of media.
I understand what the family was trying to do here but in the court of public opinion he's a monster. He killed his parents and if that wasn't enough he killed three innocent children. He knew exactly what he was doing and any comments about how he played instruments and wanted to be in the army will not change the fact that his punk killed 5 innocent people. Though I pray for this kid and the family. I do not want him on the streets ever again with my family. Let us not forget that he admitted to police that he wanted to kill innocent people shopping at Walmart.
Should have waited till he was in the military than he could kill legally and get a ribbon for it.
Of course. Let's just get rid of the military and everyone will be kind and lovey-dovey with each other. (How naive can a person be?)
The state has proper authority to conduct a just war. That is very different from murder. Individuals do not have the right to take the life of another without proper justification. His actions were not just. They were illegal. His unjust actions deserve to be judged.
ptownz your an idiot.
Why do all these responsible gun owners leave their AR-15s laying around where kids can get them??? I have actually argued with someone on another forum who says that he doesn't need lock his guns away because he can trust his kids and that I'm the real bad guy cause I can't trust mine.
This is what the so called responsible gun owners do.
He is not a monster he is a MURDERER. he plotted to kill his mother, father nd siblings. He needs to be tried in adult court andif found guilty, executed. If he is tried in juvenile court he will be out when he turns twenty-one anthen when some one else tells him something he does not like he will MURDER again. He needs to be removed from society, permanetly.
How many Zombies did he Kill !
He probably just thought he could just press Reset and his family would be restored.
Great video games !
The kid is probably a Democrat and did this as a publicity stunt to support Obama's anti-gun program.
I hope your joking Bill H-1430012 because that has to be one dumbest things I've ever heard. To take a tragedy like this and and find a reason to blame Obama is pathetic. Why not put Obama on trial for this since he is the one who put the AR15 in their house right? Yeah, I'm sure a 15 year old who could care less about gun control had an agenda to prove of point. Yeah whatever, that makes perfect sense.
The NRA, extreme gun owner positions, and the multiple daily gun killings\massacres are providing enough "ammunition" to lead to gun restrictions, only the gun wackos are freaking out and buying up any gun they can get their * hands on, so we should expect more murders like this. Or maybe the pro gunners think that they are thinning the herd. But I think if they pass the law that requires a psychological test before someone buys a gun, all of the people who want to buy will fail it, its only those that don't want them in their life who would pass it.
Really? The only people that could pass a psychological test are people who don't want guns? What makes you think that you are any saner than any person that owns a gun? You have to love most liberals. They seem to think that they are the only ones that know anything and that they know what is right for every single person. If you don't agree with them you are stupid or I guess from your post insane. The only rights that are important are the ones that they want. Not that conservatives are that much better.
The relatives are the problem...if he is not a monster, maybe give the 15 year old a gun and put them in a room with him. I mean, the kid is evil and insane. I suppose the left would want to take everyone elses gun away so that this kid can't get access. Its nuts. SHoot the little f'er and end this stupidity.
He killed 5 people, including 3 younger children.
Misguided?
Gimme a break!
thought it was odd that he was so much older than the other children... and there are 5 older siblings.... was this possibly not his birth mother? Not that anything justifies the shooting, but a stepmother and half sibs would point to some possible divide in this family and maybe other issues that were festering. If he is not insane, we have to ask if there was some kind of abuse that would erupt in this kind of violence.
Misguided- no that is just denial.
Psychopath- Absolutely. This monster of a teen has shown zero remorse or empathy for the death of his family and when he gets out of the liberal prison system he will still be a psychopath.
Their is no cure for psychopathy. (Other than a .45 to the heart)