The four people gunned down in a New Mexico home on Christmas were all members of one family — and the victims of an apparent murder-suicide, authorities confirmed.
Carlos Velasquez, 50, his wife Marilyn, 45, and sons Roberto, 22, and Adrian, 14, were found dead around 4:15 p.m. inside the home within a middle-class Rio Rancho neighborhood, local police said in a statement.
Relatives called 911 after finding both sons dead in their bedrooms, according to an affidavit obtained by The Albuquerque Journal.
Both were killed in their beds, and Roberto was shot several times, according to the affidavit.
Responding officers found Marilyn dead with her back against the wall, at the foot of her younger son’s bed, and Carlos was discovered facedown, draped across his wife’s legs, the paper reported.
A black handgun was found under his body, and the floor was covered with shell casings.
Court records obtained by the Journal reveal that Carlos, who had recently retired from the Army, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, and the couple was in the midst of getting a divorce.
Relatives called Marilyn a “beautiful person,” hard worker and fan of Puerto Rican music and the Dallas Cowboys. Adrian, a high school student, was an avid soccer player.
Roberto, who aspired to work for NASA, had graduated from the University of New Mexico in May and was continuing his electrical engineering studies at Stanford University. He was on winter break and spending the holidays with his family.
“This is a tragic event for the family and for the people in our communities,” Police Capt. Rodriguez said in a statement. “Our officers and detectives understand the impact this incident has on our entire city.”
Marilyn’s brother and her sister’s boyfriend were the first to discover the bodies, according to the Journal.
Detectives investigate the deaths of four people found Christmas Day in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.AP“This was my beautiful sister and her handsome boys,” he posted to Facebook, along with a photo of Marilyn and her two sons — Roberto in a graduation cap and gown. “Sadly something possessed her husband on Christmas Day to commit the most horrible thing ever and took their lives and his own. My sister was an amazing person and loved her boys with all her soul. May God grant us the understanding to deal with this and may they rest in peace.”
By Friday morning, a GoFundMe page set up to support the family raised more than $13,000 of its $20,000 goal.
“We recently lost an amazing family over Christmas,” said a message on the page. “It was unexpected and is leaving the family utterly destroyed as they’re having to pick up the pieces and try to understand this tragedy. Please help by donating for the funeral expenses of 3 family members. Every little bit helps and the family appreciates every bit that you give.”
