Two boys, aged 11 and 13, have been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident in New Mexico last year. Authorities stated that the boys, along with a 15-year-old who is still at large, deliberately ran over a bicyclist while recording the act from inside the vehicle.
The victim, 63-year-old Scott Habermehl, was commuting to work in a designated bike lane on the morning of May 29, 2024, when he was struck. Initially, there were no witnesses or surveillance footage of the incident, making the case difficult to solve. However, a breakthrough came in February when two juveniles reported a video of the event—one to a parent and another to a school official. The video, which had been posted on Instagram, showed three individuals inside a car intentionally running over a cyclist.
Investigators determined that the video was from the May 29 hit-and-run and identified the suspects. The footage captured the moment the back passenger, believed to be the 15-year-old, instructed the driver to “just bump him,” with laughter heard as they fled the scene. Authorities believe the 13-year-old was the driver, and the vehicle involved was likely stolen.
Arrest warrants for murder were issued last week, leading to the 13-year-old’s arrest on Monday. He was booked into a juvenile detention center and faces multiple charges, including open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving death, and unlawful possession of a handgun. The 11-year-old, who was reported as a runaway from Torrance County, is too young to be formally charged and will be placed under the care of the Children, Youth and Families Department for evaluation.
Police are still searching for the 15-year-old and another unidentified suspect. Authorities urged them to turn themselves in. The case has drawn strong reactions, with Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina calling the video disturbing and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller describing the crime as both heartbreaking and terrifying. Habermehl, a longtime employee at Sandia National Labs, is survived by his wife and two sons. His family has requested privacy as they process the new revelations surrounding his death.
