Three young boys in Albuquerque made headlines after a shocking incident last year. The boys, aged 11, 13, and 15, were reportedly involved in a tragic event where they hit a 63-year-old cyclist with their car while filming themselves. The cyclist, Scott Dwight Habermehl, was on his way to work at Sandia National Laboratories when this all happened.
The police have been on the case, and as of Monday, they managed to arrest the 13-year-old. They’re still on the hunt for the 15-year-old, while the 11-year-old has also been caught. Due to their ages, their names haven’t been released to the public, as reported by KRQE-TV.
What makes this incident even more disturbing is the video evidence. In the footage, one of the boys can be heard saying, “Just bump him, brah,” as the car swerves to hit the cyclist. This deliberate act resulted in a fatal crash, sending both Habermehl and his bike over the car.
As the investigation unfolded, it was revealed that the boys had seen the bicycle’s flashing light and aimed to hit it. The audio from the video shows a chilling conversation among the boys, with the driver accelerating toward Habermehl. The backseat passenger, believed to be the 15-year-old, advises the driver to bump the cyclist at around 15 to 20 mph.
In a shocking twist, the front passenger, likely the 11-year-old, was seen with a handgun, laughing as the car struck Habermehl. This heinous act resulted in loud noises from the impact, which included metal bending and the cyclist being thrown over the car. These details paint a grim picture of the events that took place.
The Albuquerque Police Department’s Fatal Crash team initially investigated the crash but couldn’t determine who was in the vehicle. However, a Crime Stoppers bulletin later released a video image of the car from a nearby church. This helped further the investigation.
An anonymous tip in February led police to a social media account where the crash video was posted. This tip provided crucial information, including the Instagram account involved. Detectives then handed the case over to the Homicide Unit for a deeper investigation.
As detectives dug into the Instagram account, they found it had already been flagged in another investigation. Adding to this, a middle school principal reported the same crash video to the Albuquerque Public Schools police. This helped the detectives gain more insights into the incident.
Police secured warrants to search social media accounts and phones previously seized from the 11-year-old and 13-year-old. The police department’s Digital Intelligence Team identified multiple videos featuring all three suspects, including the original crash video. This evidence played a key role in advancing the investigation.
The 13-year-old has been arrested on several charges, including an open count of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The 15-year-old faces similar charges, while the 11-year-old is being assessed for potential charges since he is too young to be charged with murder. Police are working closely with the district attorney’s office and the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department.
The arrested 13-year-old is headed for the Juvenile Detention Center. As for the 11-year-old, he has been handed over to the state’s CYFD. KRQE reported that they couldn’t confirm if the 11-year-old was 10 or 11 at the time of the crash.
The 11-year-old had previous run-ins with the law, including a notable incident just days before the fatal crash. He and three teenagers were involved in crashing a stolen car into a convenience store, causing significant damage and stealing items. This incident was a precursor to the tragic events that followed.
A single mother, whose car was used in the store crash, expressed her heartbreak. Her car, her only means of transportation, was misused, causing her distress. She remarked on how hard she worked for her belongings, highlighting the impact of these reckless actions.
KRQE couldn’t verify the exact age of the 11-year-old at the time of the incidents. However, police noted his involvement in another 2024 event where he allegedly shot at someone. This pattern of behavior raises concerns about his actions and potential consequences.
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