A 13-year-old boy has been charged with murder following a deadly hit-and-run incident involving a bicyclist. The tragic event occurred last May when the boy, allegedly driving a stolen car, reportedly swerved into a bike lane and fatally struck Scott Dwight Habermehl, 63, as he was riding to his job at Sandia National Laboratories. The chilling episode was recorded on video from inside the vehicle, capturing a voice believed to be the boy's, proclaiming his intention to hit the cyclist.
The recorded footage not only implicates the 13-year-old but also reveals the involvement of a 15-year-old passenger. In the video, the passenger can be heard allegedly instructing the driver, "Yeah, just bump him. Go like … 15 … 20." This incident bears a striking resemblance to another case in Las Vegas in 2023, where teenage boys were accused of planning and executing a similar hit-and-run, which also resulted in a fatality.
Despite the serious nature of the incident, legal constraints prevent the 13-year-old from being charged with murder due to his age. An 11-year-old participant in the event is similarly deemed too young for such charges. However, authorities have moved forward with charging the 13-year-old, who is expected to be booked into juvenile detention.
The deliberate nature of the act and its tragic outcome have sparked significant concern and outrage within the community. Scott Dwight Habermehl's death underscores the dangers posed by reckless driving and highlights a disturbing trend of premeditated vehicular violence among teenagers.