Ex-GOP candidate arrested in shootings at lawmakers’ homes

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A failed Republican state legislative candidate who authorities say was offended over shedding the election final November and made baseless claims that the election was “rigged” towards him was arrested Monday in reference to a collection of drive-by shootings concentrating on the houses of Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico’s largest metropolis.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina held a information convention Monday night hours after SWAT officers arrested Solomon Pena at his house.

Medina described Pena because the “mastermind” of what seems to be a politically-motivated felony conspiracy resulting in 4 shootings at or close to the houses of two county commissioners and two state legislators between early December and early January.

Pena misplaced in November to incumbent state Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, the longtime Democrat representing Home District 14 within the South Valley. Garcia gained by 48 share factors, or roughly 3,600 votes.

Police mentioned Pena, an election denier, had approached county and state lawmakers after his loss claiming the competition had been rigged towards him regardless of no proof of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022. The shootings started shortly after these conversations.

New Mexico’s state Canvassing Board unanimously licensed the outcomes of the November election.

“This sort of radicalism is a risk to our nation and has made its solution to our doorstep proper right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” mentioned Mayor Tim Keller. “However I do know we’re going to push again, and we is not going to enable this to cross the edge.”

Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock mentioned at the very least 5 folks, together with Pena, have been concerned within the shootings. Pena is accused of paying the others to hold out at the very least two of the shootings, in accordance with Hartsock, earlier than “Pena himself” allegedly “pulled the set off” throughout considered one of crimes.

Police mentioned they recognized Pena as their “key” suspect utilizing a mix of cellphone information, witness interviews and bullet casings collected on the lawmakers’ houses. His arrest comes one week after Medina, the police chief, initially introduced that they had recognized a suspect within the shootings.

A lawyer for Pena who may touch upon the allegations wasn’t listed Monday night time in jail information.

Nobody was injured within the shootings, which got here amid an increase in threats to members of Congress, college board members, election officers and different authorities staff across the nation. In Albuquerque, legislation enforcement has been struggling to handle back-to-back years of file homicides and protracted gun violence.

Hartsock mentioned extra arrests and costs have been anticipated within the case however declined to elaborate, citing the continuing investigation. He mentioned some people, together with Pena, have been in custody Monday night time.

A felony grievance outlining the precise costs towards Pena was anticipated to be launched within the coming days.

The shootings started in early December when eight rounds have been fired on the house of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, police mentioned. Days later, former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s house was focused.

As information stories started to floor concerning the shootings, state Rep. Javier Martinez examined his property and found injury from gunshots. Police imagine the taking pictures occurred in early December.

Then, through the first week of January, pictures have been fired on the house of state Sen. Linda Lopez — a lead sponsor of a 2021 invoice that reversed New Mexico’s ban on most abortion procedures.

Lopez mentioned in a press release that three of the bullets handed by her 10-year-old daughter’s bed room.

Police had been investigating two extra shootings — one within the neighborhood of New Mexico Lawyer Common Raul Torrez’s former marketing campaign workplace and one other at state Sen. Antonio Maestas’ workplace. However Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the police division, mentioned Monday the shootings don’t seem like linked to the case.