By Kevin Hendricks
Police arrested another minor who is accused of intentionally crashing a stolen car into and killing a 63-year-old Corrales man who was riding his bike last summer in Albuquerque.
The Albuquerque Police Department announced Tuesday that an 11-year-old is in custody for his role in the murder of Scott Habermehl, a longtime Corrales resident who was riding his bike to work at Sandia National Laboratory in May.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested Monday and charged with murder in connection with the death of Habermehl, who lived in Corrales and rode his bike to work and back home every day.
According to APD, the 11-year-old will be placed in CYFD custody, where he will be given an evaluation. APD took the 11-year-old into custody in June 2024 for other crimes committed around the same time period as the crash that killed Habermehl. The minor is a missing person out of Torrance County who was listed as a runaway.
APD said the 13-year-old is facing several charges, including an open count of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, leaving the scene of an accident involving great bodily harm or death and unlawful possession of a handgun.
Police announced the arrest of a 16-year-old Wednesday in connection with the killing. The boy, who was 15 at the time, was in the car when Habermehl was killed and is facing the same charges as the 13-year-old.
Habermehl was riding his bike to work at Sandia National Laboratory around 4:40 a.m. when he was hit by the car, according to APD.
The three boys inside the car videotaped the crash, with audio recordings showing they intended to hit the cyclist. Habermehl was struck from behind in the bike lane and the vehicle fled the scene. He later died from his injuries.
Police said the 11-year-old is too young to be charged with murder, but detectives are working with the DA’s Office and CYFD to determine what charges he may face and whether he can be held on those charges.
An anonymous tip led police to a social media video of the crash. APD then found several video clips showing all three boys, including the original crash video.
That video, which includes audio, captured a conversation between the boys as the driver, believed to be the 13-year-old, said he was going to hit the bicyclist and accelerated the vehicle. The back passenger, believed to be the 15-year-old, said not to hit the bicyclist going too fast. “Just bump him, brah.” The driver responded, “Like bump him?” The back passenger repeated, “Yeah, just bump him. Go like…15…20.”
As the vehicle approached the intersection of Moon St. and Atkinson Ave., the front passenger, believed to be the 11-year-old who was waving a handgun, ducked and laughed as the front passenger side of the vehicle struck Habermehl.
The two arrests this week and the release of the crash video caught the attention of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who released a statement about the murder Tuesday.
“I am horrified by the video footage of this brazen, heartless killing involving three juveniles—ages 11, 13 and 15—who targeted an innocent cyclist,” Lujan Grisham said. “This case is an appalling and heartbreaking reminder of the serious juvenile crime crisis we face in New Mexico––and our lack of tools to properly address it. I extend my deepest condolences to the friends, family and coworkers of the victim, Scott Dwight Habermehl.”
Who are the parents and what is their responsibility in this whole thing?
My comment is unprintable. This is pure evil.