Teens Face Murder Charges Nearly a Year After Cyclist's Death in Stolen Car Incident
Nearly a year after a cyclist commuting to work was deliberately hit by a stolen car, New Mexico police have released video footage capturing the moments before the incident. The video release coincides with the arrest of a teenager accused of driving the vehicle, who now faces a murder charge, according to Albuquerque police.
Mayor Tim Keller revealed that the 13-year-old driver and two passengers, aged 15 and 11 at the time, were runaways and school dropouts. The mayor labeled them as "murderers" during a news conference. The youngest, being too young for criminal charges, has been taken into custody by the state’s Children, Youth & Families Department for evaluation.
The Albuquerque Police Department announced that the 11-year-old is in custody, while the search continues for the 15-year-old. The older boys are charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, fleeing the scene of an accident involving injury or death, and illegal firearm possession.
The victim, 63-year-old Scott Dwight Habermehl from Corrales, was cycling to his job at Sandia National Laboratories when he was struck on May 29. Habermehl, a Ph.D. physicist, was known for his work on radiation-resistant microchips, contributing to six patents. He was remembered as a mentor and scholar.
Initially treated as a hit-and-run, the case was reopened after a video surfaced in February, reportedly filmed from inside the stolen car and later posted on Instagram. This footage led to the identification and arrest warrants for two of the youths, who were already known to law enforcement.
The video allegedly captures the 15-year-old encouraging the 13-year-old driver to "just bump him, brah," before the vehicle accelerated towards Habermehl. The 11-year-old passenger, reportedly waving a handgun, is seen ducking and laughing as the car struck the cyclist.
The 13-year-old, who was on juvenile probation, was apprehended with the help of probation officials. The 15-year-old, still at large, has a history of criminal activity, including thefts and a minor-injury shooting.