But Nehemiah called a friend first, who talked him into meeting at Calvary church, where Nehemiah’s father had been a pastor. It was apparently a Calvary church security officer who contacted 911 about the slayings at the Griego home late Saturday…. The couple had 10 children, but only the three youngest and Nehemiah were at home during the shootings.

It was a “horrific” crime scene that confronted deputies Saturday night: Pastor Greg Griego, his wife, Sarah, and their three youngest children lay dead — fatally shot multiple times with an assault rifle and other weapons — at their South Valley home.

The suspect in custody is the couple’s 15-year-old son, Nehemiah Griego, who authorities believe shot and killed his mother, young brother and two young sisters about 1 a.m. Saturday, and then lay in wait for five hours before ambushing his father when he came home.

The Journal also has learned that authorities believe Nehemiah then put several loaded weapons, including the assault rifle, in the family van with the plan to drive to the nearest Walmart, gun down more people and eventually die in a shootout with police.

But Nehemiah called a friend first, who talked him into meeting at Calvary church, where Nehemiah’s father had been a pastor. It was apparently a Calvary church security officer who contacted 911 about the slayings at the Griego home late Saturday.

Nehemiah Griego is now in the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center, charged with two open counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death.

The couple had 10 children, but only the three youngest and Nehemiah were at home during the shootings.

The sheriff’s office has identified the victims as Greg Griego, 51, a former pastor at Calvary Chapel, as well as at the Metropolitan Detention Center; his wife, Sarah Griego, 40, a stay-at-home mom who home schooled their children; Zephania Griego, 9; Jael Griego, 5; and Angelina Griego, 2.

“I’ve never seen a scene quite like this,” Bernalillo County Sheriff Dan Houston told reporters at a news conference Sunday morning.

Shot in their beds

Throughout Sunday, the sheriff’s office released few details.

But the Journal has learned that sheriff’s investigators found multiple weapons at the Griegos’ home, including an AR-15 semiautomatic assault-style rifle and a .22 caliber pistol. It appears Nehemiah used both weapons in the slayings, although it was not immediately clear which guns he allegedly used to kill which of his family members.

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