New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for legislative action following the arrest of a 13-year-old boy charged with the murder of Scott Dwight Habermehl. Habermehl, a 63-year-old employee at Sandia National Laboratories, was killed while cycling to work last May after being struck by a stolen vehicle.
Authorities have released video footage showing an 11-year-old passenger brandishing a firearm as the vehicle, driven by the 13-year-old, swerved into Habermehl. Police records reveal that the 11-year-old has a significant criminal history, including arrests for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and involvement in shooting incidents.
Governor Lujan Grisham expressed her dismay in an official statement: "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. 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."
The governor extended her condolences to Habermehl's loved ones and emphasized the need for effective laws to detain repeat juvenile offenders and provide suitable interventions. She criticized lawmakers for not passing substantive legislation on juvenile crime during the current legislative session.
"I am appalled that with less than a week remaining in the legislative session, lawmakers have not passed any substantive legislation to deal with juvenile crime," Lujan Grisham stated. "I call on every New Mexican to contact their legislators immediately and demand that they act with urgency to provide our communities with the tools they need to address juvenile crime. Their refusal to seriously debate these issues during the 60-day legislative session is unacceptable when lives are at stake."
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about juvenile crime in New Mexico and raises questions about how such cases should be addressed legislatively.
