ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Three teenagers arrested for the brutal slayings of two homeless men in Albuquerque have been indicted on first-degree murder, aggravated assault and numerous other charges.
The indictments were returned Tuesday by a Bernalillo County grand jury. Arraignments for the three teens have yet to be scheduled.
Because the 15- and 16-year-old suspects were charged as serious youthful offenders and indicted on first-degree murder charges, they will be tried alongside 18-year-old Alex Rios in adult court.
Rios and the two younger suspects are charged with attacking three homeless men as they slept in a vacant lot.
The two men who were killed were Native American. But police said there's no indication the teens sought out their victims based on race, so hate-crime charges were not presented to the grand jury.