10-Year-Old Suspected in Fatal Shooting

BELEN, N.M. (KRQE) - A 10-year-old Belen boy is suspected of shooting and killing his father Thursday night, according to police who are investigating whether the gunshot was deliberate or accidental.

The Belen police chief confirmed a 42-year-old man had been shot once in the head with a rifle. Two children were at the home on the 300 block of Vivian Dr. in Belen at the time of the shooting.

Late Thursday night investigators were still in the process of searching through the home after they'd waited several hours for the search warrant to be signed.

They said they were recovering documents possibly related to Children, Youth and Families Department visits as well as weapons inside the home.

Officers responded to the home after they received a call of shots fired at 6:30 pm.

Ramona Silva, who lives almost directly across the street from the victim, told KRQE News 13 she knew the single-dad and his three children well.

The police chief said the man and their mother were divorced.

Silva said the children adored their father and she hopes the shooting was accidental.

"What I saw he was a wonderful dad, and those kids were really respectful with their dad," Silva said. "They were always respectful to their dad, you know?

"I mean come on, for a man to raise three children on his own, you know, it says it all right there."

She said the victim's parents live directly across the street from their son and had no idea of the shooting until she called them to ask about the police activity at their son's home.

If the shooting is ruled a homicide it will be Belen's first this year after recording two in 2008.