Mexican authorities have arrested a 14-year-old boy nicknamed "El Chapito" for the drug-related killing of eight people near the Mexican capital, the federal Department of Public Security said, the Associated Press reported.

The boy allegedly got on a motorcycle and opened fire on a family in the capital's Chimalhuacan suburb.

Another man has also been arrested for the January 22 killings, and seven other gang members are being held on drug charges.

At the time of the attack, which injured five adults and two children, the victims were hosting a party at their home.

It was reportedly a birthday party.

The boy's name has not been released, but his nickname - "Little Chapo" - is an apparent reference to jailed drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzmán. 

The motive for the killings has not been publicly announced, but drug gangs in Mexico often engage in kidnappings and contract killings.

They also kill rivals who sell drugs in their territory or people who give them money.

Mexico is no stranger to child killers

, the AP points out, BTA informs.

In 2010, soldiers detained a 14-year-old boy nicknamed "El Ponchis".

The boy claims he was kidnapped at age 11 and forced to work for the South Pacific Cartel, an offshoot of Beltran Leyva's splinter gang, and that he participated in at least four beheadings.

After his arrest, the boy, who authorities identified only by his first name, Edgar, told reporters he was drugged and threatened to commit the crimes.

Mexico