Failed GOP candidate visited officials' homes falsely claiming election fraud before allegedly targeting them in shootings, police say - CNN

CNN  — 

A Republican erstwhile campaigner for New Mexico’s legislature arrested connected suspicion of orchestrating 4 caller shootings astatine Democratic leaders’ homes had visited astatine slightest 3 of those officials’ homes to sermon predetermination results, Albuquerque Police said.

Solomon Peña, who mislaid a 2022 tally for authorities House District 14, is accused of paying and conspiring with 4 men to sprout astatine the homes of 2 authorities legislators and 2 region commissioners.

According to police:

• Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa’s location was changeable astatine aggregate times connected December 4.

• Incoming authorities House Speaker Javier Martinez’s location was changeable astatine connected December 8.

• Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s location was changeable astatine connected December 11.

• State Sen. Linda Lopez’s location was changeable astatine connected January 3.

• Peña went to different commissioner’s location to sermon the election, but that commissioner “never reported immoderate shots fired,” Albuquerque constabulary said.

No 1 was injured successful immoderate of the shootings. Peña is besides accused of trying to enactment successful astatine slightest 1 of the shootings himself, Albuquerque constabulary said. He was arrested by a constabulary SWAT squad Monday.

The probe recovered “these shootings were so politically motivated,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said. He called Peña “an predetermination denier.”

After losing the election, Peña approached a authorities legislator and 2 region commissioners astatine their homes with paperwork claiming determination was fraud progressive successful the elections, Albuquerque constabulary said.

Peña was arrested connected preliminary charges of felon successful possession of a firearm; attempted aggravated artillery with a deadly weapon; transgression solicitation; and 4 counts each of shooting astatine an occupied dwelling, shooting astatine oregon from a centrifugal vehicle, and conspiracy, according to a warrant.

CNN has reached retired to Peña’s run website for remark and has been incapable to place his attorney.

False and unfounded claims astir predetermination fraud person exploded nationwide successful caller years and fueled anger and threats of violence against elected officials – adjacent successful section politics.

Barboa, the region commissioner whose location was changeable astatine aggregate times connected December 4, told CNN astir an “erratic” brushwood with Peña earlier the shooting.

“He came to my location aft the predetermination and he’s an predetermination denier. He weaponized those unsafe thoughts to endanger maine and others, causing superior trauma,” Barboa told “CNN This Morning” connected Tuesday.

“He was saying that the elections were fake … I didn’t consciousness threatened astatine the time, but I did consciousness similar helium was erratic.”

Similarly, O’Malley – the erstwhile Bernalillo region commissioner – told constabulary Peña was astatine her location conscionable days earlier the December 11 shooting there, according to an apprehension warrant affidavit obtained from Albuquerque police.

“Debbie recalled that helium was upset that helium had not won the predetermination for nationalist office, adjacent though Debbie O’Malley was not a contender,” the affidavit says.

Ring doorbell camera footage recorded astatine O’Malley’s erstwhile residence and obtained by CNN shows Peña approaching the doorway and knocking, holding documents successful his hands.

The existent nonmigratory speaks to him done the camera’s talker feature, telling him O’Malley nary longer lives astatine that residence and directing him to her caller home.

While nary 1 was injured successful immoderate of the shootings, Peña “intended to (cause) superior wounded oregon origin decease to occupants wrong their homes,” an apprehension warrant affidavit reads.

“There is probable origin to judge that soon aft his unsuccessful (political) campaign, helium conspired … to perpetrate these 4 shootings” astatine the officials’ homes, the affidavit states.

Firearm evidence, surveillance footage, witnesser accounts positive compartment telephone and physics records helped officials link 5 radical to the alleged conspiracy, Albuquerque constabulary Deputy Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock said Monday.

Peña was archetypal connected to the January 3 shooting astatine Lopez’s home.

That day, Lopez “heard large bangs but dismissed them arsenic fireworks astatine the time,” she told police.

But her 10-year-old girl woke up reasoning a spider was crawling connected her look and that determination was soil successful her bed. It turned retired to beryllium sheetrock particulate that was blown onto the child’s look from a slug passing done her bedroom, the affidavit says.

Police aboriginal recovered “12 impacts” astatine the authorities senator’s location and ammunition casings nearby, according to the affidavit.

About 40 minutes aft the shooting, a lawman spotted a metallic Nissan Maxima with “an improperly displayed licence sheet sticker” astir 4 miles from Lopez’s location and made a postulation stop, the affidavit states.

The Nissan was registered to Peña – but it was driven by different antheral astatine the clip who had a felony warrant retired for his arrest, the affidavit states.

In the trunk, the lawman recovered a Glock handgun with a drum mag and an AR pistol, constabulary said. The handgun matched the ammunition casings from the lawmaker’s home, constabulary said successful a quality release.

Investigators past connected Peña to the shootings astatine the different officials’ homes. On Monday, detectives served hunt warrants astatine Peña’s flat and the location of 2 men allegedly paid by Peña, constabulary said.

“After the predetermination successful November, Solomon Peña reached retired and contracted idiosyncratic for an magnitude of currency wealth to perpetrate astatine slightest 2 of these shootings. The addresses of the shootings were communicated implicit phone,” Hartsock said Monday, citing the investigation.

“Within hours, successful 1 case, the shooting took spot astatine the lawmaker’s home.”

One of the conspirators initially told shooters “to purpose supra the windows to debar striking anyone inside,” the affidavit reads, citing a confidential witnesser with cognition of the alleged conspiracy.

But Peña yet wanted the shooters to beryllium “more aggressive” and “aim little and sprout astir 8 p.m. due to the fact that occupants would much apt not beryllium laying down,” the affidavit says, citing the confidential witness.

In the latest shooting, constabulary recovered grounds “Peña himself went … and really pulled the trigger connected astatine slightest 1 of the firearms that was used,” Hartsock said. But an AR handgun helium tried to usage malfunctioned, and much than a twelve rounds were fired by different shooter, a constabulary quality merchandise said.

Authorities are inactive investigating whether those suspected of carrying retired the shootings were “even alert of who these targets were oregon if they were conscionable conducting shootings,” Hartsock said.

Peña, who mislaid the predetermination to Democratic authorities Rep. Miguel Garcia 26% to 74% – had publically alleged that the contention was rigged, his Twitter relationship shows.

“Trump conscionable announced for 2024. I basal with him. I ne'er conceded my HD 14 race. Now researching my options,” Peña tweeted November 15 aft losing his race.

On January 2, successful effect to idiosyncratic who asked him if his predetermination was rigged, Peña tweeted: “Si, excavation was besides rigged. And I volition combat it until the time I die.”

The astir caller clip Peña tweeted that helium did not suffer the predetermination was connected January 9, erstwhile helium posted “When we yet decision the rigged NM elections, oh, the leader I volition be! MAGA federation 4ever!”

Keller, the Democratic politician of Albuquerque, called Peña a “right-wing radical” and a “dangerous criminal.”

“This benignant of radicalism is simply a menace to our federation and has made its mode to our doorstep close present successful Albuquerque, New Mexico, but we volition proceed volition propulsion backmost against hate,” Keller said successful a statement.

“Differences of sentiment are cardinal to democracy, but disagreements should ne'er pb to violence.”

In summation to making unsupported claims astir predetermination results, Peña replied to respective Twitter users who mentioned his transgression past and clip spent successful prison.

During the autumn campaign, Peña’s opponent, Garcia, sued to person Peña removed from the ballot, arguing Peña’s presumption arsenic an ex-felon should forestall him from being capable to tally for nationalist bureau successful the state, CNN affiliate KOAT reported.

Peña served astir years successful situation aft a 2008 condemnation for stealing a ample measurement of goods successful a “smash and drawback scheme,” the KOAT study said.

A territory tribunal justice ruled Peña was allowed to tally successful the election, KOAT reported.