A New Mexico man stands accused of murdering two individuals, reportedly telling police that a cockroach instructed him to carry out the killings.

Officers who responded to gunfire at a residence in Albuquerque encountered 25-year-old Alexis Hernandez. He was allegedly armed with a gun and had a “Marine Corps saber” strapped to his side. Hernandez, who identified himself as a Marine, informed the officers that there were two dead men inside the home, as reported by the Albuquerque Journal.

According to People, authorities discovered one victim inside the house who appeared to have gunshot wounds. A second victim, found in an adjoining apartment, had what seemed to be stab wounds.

Hernandez allegedly told investigators that he received an encrypted message from a cockroach instructing him to commit the murders. He further claimed that one of the victims, whom he considered a friend, had been stalking him and hiding cameras in light fixtures, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Police reported that Hernandez mentioned hearing unsettling voices through the vents and believed he had received signs compelling him to act against one of the men before he himself became a victim.

Hernandez is said to have confessed to the murders, recounting how he initially shot the men, then retrieved additional ammunition from his vehicle to continue shooting.

Bernalillo County police said there were three other adults and two children in the home at the time of Friday’s incident. KOB reported that the three adults were detained for questioning, and the children were safely removed from the scene.

According to the news outlet, the two shooting victims were Hector Rios and another man only identified as “Yorces.” Rios reportedly owned the property where Friday’s shooting transpired. Rios was also the friend whom Hernandez accused of stalking.

Hernandez was booked into jail on Saturday under two open counts of murder. The incident remains under investigation.

[Feature Photo: Bernalillo County police]