Teenager arrested for gunning down five in US

A male teenager has been arrested for allegedly shooting five people to death on the weekend in the city of Albuquerque, authorities said Sunday.

Two adults and three children were found dead with multiple bullet wounds in a house near that city Saturday night.

According to the spokesman for the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, Aaron Williamson, the motive for the crime and the connection between the presumed killer and his victims are not known.

Williamson confirmed that several weapons were found in the house with the bodies, including an "assault style" rifle that was used to carry out the mass shooting.

The teenager was booked on two counts of murder and three counts of child abuse resulting in death, the spokesman said.

He was arrested after being questioned in the sheriff's office and it is probable that charges will be filed against him Tuesday.

Authorities have not revealed the identity of the suspect or those of his victims.

The multiple shooting comes just a few days after US President Barack Obama announced the signing of 23 executive orders tightening gun controls, including prohibiting the sale of assault weapons, measures taken after a gunman used an assault rifle to kill 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December. --IANS/EFE