A failed Republican candidate who authorities mentioned was offended over his defeat and made baseless claims the election final November was “rigged” in opposition to him was arrested in reference to a sequence of drive-by shootings concentrating on the properties of Democratic lawmakers in New Mexico’s largest metropolis.
Solomon Pena, 39, was arrested Monday night, simply hours after SWAT officers took him into custody and served search warrants at his dwelling, police mentioned.
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina described Pena because the “mastermind” of what he mentioned seems to be a politically motivated conspiracy resulting in shootings on the properties of two county commissioners and two state legislators between early December and early January.
No one was injured within the shootings however in a single case three bullets handed via the bed room of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.
Pena ran unsuccessfully in November in opposition to incumbent state Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, the longtime Democrat representing House District 14 within the South Valley. Garcia gained by 48 share factors, or roughly 3,600 votes.
After the election, police mentioned, Pena confirmed up uninvited on the elected officers’ properties with what he claimed had been paperwork proving he had gained his race. There was no proof of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022.
The shootings started shortly after these conversations.
“This type of radicalism is a threat to our nation and has made its way to our doorstep right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” Mayor Tim Keller mentioned. “But I know we are going to push back, and we will not allow this to cross the threshold.”
Four males conspired with Pena, who’s accused of paying them money to hold out not less than two of the drive-by shootings in stolen automobiles, whereas Pena “pulled the trigger” throughout one of many crimes, Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock mentioned.
Detectives recognized Pena as their key suspect utilizing a mixture of cellphone and car information, witness interviews and bullet casings collected on the lawmakers’ properties, police mentioned. His arrest got here one week after Medina introduced that they had recognized a suspect within the shootings.
A lawyer for Pena who might touch upon the allegations wasn’t listed Monday night time in jail information.
No one was injured within the shootings, which unfolded 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 struggled to deal with back-to-back years of file homicides and chronic gun violence.
The shootings started Dec. 4, when eight rounds had been fired on the dwelling of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa. Days later, state Rep. Javier Martinez’s dwelling was focused, adopted by a Dec. 11 capturing on the dwelling of Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley. More than a dozen rounds had been fired at her dwelling, police mentioned.
The ultimate associated capturing, concentrating on state Sen. Linda Lopez’s dwelling, unfolded within the midnight hour of Jan. 3. Police mentioned greater than a dozen pictures had been fired and Lopez mentioned three of the bullets handed via her 10-year-old daughter’s bed room.
Investigators obtained a break within the case after expertise that may detect the sound of gunfire led an officer to Lopez’s neighborhood shortly after the pictures had been fired.
The officer discovered bullet casings matching a handgun discovered later that morning in a Nissan Maxima registered to Pena. Around 1:30 a.m., about an hour after the capturing at Lopez’s dwelling, police stopped the Nissan about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from the lawmaker’s neighborhood.
The driver, recognized Monday night time as Jose Trujillo, was arrested on an impressive warrant, resulting in the invention of greater than 800 fentanyl capsules and two firearms within the automobile, police mentioned.
A felony grievance outlining the precise fees in opposition to the previous political candidate was anticipated to be launched within the coming days. Additional arrests and fees additionally had been anticipated, however police declined to elaborate, citing the continued investigation.
Detectives additionally had been investigating two extra shootings they initially believed may very well be associated to the Pena case: one within the neighborhood of New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez’s former marketing campaign workplace and one other at state Sen. Antonio Maestas’ workplace. Police on Monday mentioned the shootings don’t look like linked.
The New Mexico Republican Party condemned Pena in an announcement Monday night time. “If Pena is found guilty, he must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
