ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A failed Republican state legislative candidate who authorities say was offended about shedding the election final November and made baseless claims that the election was “rigged” in opposition to him has been arrested Monday in reference to a collection of shootings. meant for the homes of the democratic parliamentarians in New Mexico’s largest metropolis.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina held a press convention Monday night time after SWAT officers arrested Solomon Pena at his residence.
Medina described Pena because the “mastermind” of what seems to be a politically motivated prison conspiracy that led to 4 shootings at or close to the properties of two county commissioners and two state legislators between early December and early January
Pena misplaced in November to the incumbent State Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, the longtime Democrat who represents Home District 14 within the South Valley. Garcia received by 48 proportion factors, or about 3,600 votes.
Police stated Pena, an electoral denier, approached county and state lawmakers after his loss, claiming the competition was rigged in opposition to him regardless of no proof of voter fraud widespread in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022. The shootings started shortly after these conversations.
The New Mexico State Board of Canvassing unanimously licensed the outcomes of the November election.
“This sort of radicalism is a risk to our nation and has made its technique to our doorstep right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” stated Mayor Tim Keller. “However I do know we’ll push it again, and we’re not going to let this cross the brink.”
Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock stated no less than 5 individuals, together with Pena, had been concerned within the shootings. Pena is accused of paying others to hold out no less than two of the shootings, in accordance with Hartsock, earlier than “Pena himself” allegedly “pulled the set off” throughout one of many crimes.
Police stated they recognized Pena as their “key” suspect utilizing a mix of cellphone information, witness interviews and bullet casings collected from the lawmakers’ properties. His arrest comes per week after Medina, the police chief, initially introduced that they had recognized a suspect within the capturing.
An lawyer for Pena who might touch upon the allegations was not listed Monday night time in jail information.
Nobody was injured within the shootings, which got here amid a surge in threats in opposition to members of Congress, faculty board members, election officers and different authorities staff throughout the nation. In Albuquerque, regulation enforcement has struggled to deal with consecutive years of document homicides and protracted gun violence.
Hartsock stated extra arrests and expenses had been anticipated within the case, however declined to elaborate, citing the continued investigation. He stated some people, together with Pena, had been in custody Monday night time.
A prison grievance outlining the precise expenses in opposition to Pena was anticipated to be launched within the coming days.
The capturing started in early December when eight rounds had been fired on the residence of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, police stated. Days later, the house of former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley was focused.
When information experiences started to floor in regards to the shootings, Rep. state Javier Martinez examined his property and found gunshot injury. Police consider the capturing occurred in early December.
Then, throughout the first week of January, photographs had been fired on the residence of state senator Linda Lopez – a lead sponsor of a 2021 invoice that might have repealed New Mexico’s ban on most procedures of abortion.
Lopez stated in a press release that three of the bullets went by her 10-year-old daughter’s bed room.
Police had been investigating two extra shootings — one close to the previous marketing campaign workplace of New Mexico Legal professional Common Raul Torrez and one other on the state workplace of Sen. Antonio Maestas. However Gilbert Gallegos, a police division spokesman, stated Monday that the shootings didn’t seem like related to the case.
