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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A failed Republican state legislative candidate who authorities say was offended over dropping the election final November and made baseless claims that the election was “rigged” in opposition to him was arrested Monday in reference to a collection of drive-by shootings focusing 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 residence.
Medina described Pena because the “mastermind” of what seems to be a politically-motivated prison 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 received by 48 proportion factors, or roughly 3,600 votes.
Police stated Pena, an election denier, had approached county and state lawmakers after his loss claiming the competition had been rigged in opposition to 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 kind of radicalism is a risk to our nation and has made its strategy to our doorstep proper right here in Albuquerque, New Mexico,” stated Mayor Tim Keller. “However I do know we're going to push again, and we won't enable this to cross the brink.”
Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock stated at the very least 5 individuals, 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 stated they recognized Pena as their “key” suspect utilizing a mixture of cellphone data, 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 data.
Nobody was injured within the shootings, which got here amid an increase in threats to members of Congress, faculty board members, election officers and different authorities employees across the nation. In Albuquerque, legislation enforcement has been struggling to deal with back-to-back years of document homicides and chronic gun violence.
Hartsock stated extra arrests and expenses have been anticipated within the case however declined to elaborate, citing the continued investigation. He stated some people, together with Pena, have been in custody Monday night time.
A prison criticism outlining the precise expenses in opposition to Pena was anticipated to be launched within the coming days.
The shootings started in early December when eight rounds have been fired on the residence of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, police stated. Days later, former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s residence was focused.
As information stories started to floor concerning the shootings, state Rep. Javier Martinez examined his property and found harm from gunshots. Police consider the capturing occurred in early December.
Then, in the course of the first week of January, pictures have been fired on the residence of state Sen. Linda Lopez — a lead sponsor of a 2021 invoice that reversed New Mexico’s ban on most abortion procedures.
Lopez stated in a press release that three of the bullets handed via her 10-year-old daughter’s bed room.
Police had been investigating two extra shootings — one within the neighborhood of New Mexico Lawyer Basic 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, stated Monday the shootings don't seem like linked to the case.