Three New Mexico boys deliberately crashed into a bicyclist and killed him, then posted video of the incident on social media, authorities said Tuesday.
William Garcia, 15; Jonathan Overbay, 13, and Messiah Hayes, 11, were accused of intentionally striking Scott Dwight Habermehl with a stolen vehicle on May 29, 2024.
Habermehl, 63, was killed in the wreck in Albuquerque. He had been biking to his job at Sandia National Laboratories, as he did every morning.
Investigators initially thought the crash was an accidental hit-and-run, until February when they discovered a video the boys posted on social media, police said. The video shows the group riding in a vehicle, with Overbay driving, Hayes in the passenger’s seat holding a gun and Garcia in the backseat recording, cops said.
One voice says, “Jump bump him, brah,” and another replies, “Like bump him?” Someone answers, “Yeah, just bump him. Go like … 15 … 20 [mph].”
The video then shows the boys’ car deliberately entering a designated bike line and striking Habermehl from behind.
Garcia and Overbay were both charged with murder. Under New Mexico law, Hayes is too young to face the same charge. Albuquerque police said they’re working with local prosecutors and the state’s department of children and families to “determine what charges he may face and whether he can be held on those charges.”
Overbay and Hayes have been detained, while Garcia remains on the loose, cops said. All three boys have previous criminal histories.