A video released on Tuesday shows the moments leading up to a stolen vehicle full of youths intentionally striking and killing a bicycle commuter in New Mexico. The teenager accused of driving the vehicle has been arrested on a charge of murder, while the 13-year-old driver and two other passengers, ages 15 and 11, are described as runaways and dropouts. The 11-year-old passenger has been taken into custody, while the 15-year-old is still being sought by police.
The older boys have been charged with murder, conspiracy to commit murder, leaving the scene of a collision involving injury or death, and unlawful possession of a firearm. The youngest passenger, at 11 years old, is too young for criminal prosecution. The state Children, Youth & Families Department will take custody of him for evaluation.
The victim, Scott Dwight Habermehl, was a Ph.D. physicist and military contractor at Sandia National Laboratories. He was struck and killed while cycling to work. The case was initially considered a hit-and-run but was reopened after the existence of a video showing the incident was reported to police.
The video footage helped identify the suspects, who were known to law enforcement and relatively easy to find. It includes audio of the 15-year-old encouraging the 13-year-old driver to hit the victim, with the 11-year-old passenger seen waving a handgun and laughing as the vehicle struck Habermehl. The 13-year-old driver was taken into custody with the help of juvenile probation officials.
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