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A failed Republican authorities legislative candidate, who authorities accidental was aggravated implicit losing an predetermination past November and made baseless claims that the ballot was “rigged”, has been arrested successful transportation with a bid of drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democratic lawmakers successful New Mexico’s largest city.
Albuquerque Police main Harold Medina held a quality league connected Monday evening hours aft Swat officers arrested Solomon Pena astatine his home.
Medina described Pena arsenic the “mastermind” of what appears to beryllium a politically motivated transgression conspiracy down 4 shootings at, oregon near, the homes of 2 region commissioners and 2 authorities legislators. The shooting took spot betwixt December and aboriginal January.
Pena mislaid an predetermination successful November to incumbent authorities Representative, Miguel P. Garcia, the longtime Democrat representing House District 14 successful New Mexico. Garcia won by 48 percent points, oregon astir 3,600 votes.
Police said Pena had approached region and authorities lawmakers aft his loss, claiming the contention had been rigged against him contempt nary grounds of wide elector fraud successful New Mexico successful 2020 oregon 2022. The shootings began soon aft those conversations.
New Mexico’s authorities Canvassing Board unanimously certified the results of the November election.
“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,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “But I cognize we are going to propulsion back, and we volition not let this to transverse the threshold.”
Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock said astatine slightest 5 people, including Pena, were progressive successful the shootings. Pena is accused of paying the others to transportation retired astatine slightest 2 of the shootings, according to Hartsock, earlier “Pena himself” allegedly “pulled the trigger” during 1 of crimes.
Police said they identified Pena arsenic their “key” fishy utilizing a operation of telephone records, witnesser interviews and slug casings collected astatine the Democrats’ homes.
A lawyer for Pena who could remark connected the allegations wasn’t listed Monday nighttime successful jailhouse records.
No 1 was injured successful the shootings, which came amid a emergence successful threats to members of Congress, schoolhouse committee members, predetermination officials and different authorities workers astir the nation. In Albuquerque, instrumentality enforcement has been struggling to code back-to-back years of grounds homicides and persistent weapon violence.
Hartsock said further arrests and charges were expected successful the lawsuit but declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. He said immoderate individuals, including Pena, were successful custody Monday night.
A transgression ailment outlining the nonstop charges against Pena was expected to beryllium released successful the coming days.
The shootings began successful aboriginal December erstwhile 8 rounds were fired astatine the location of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, constabulary said. Days later, erstwhile Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s location was targeted.
As quality reports began to aboveground astir the shootings, authorities Representative Javier Martinez examined his spot and discovered harm from gunshots. Police judge the shooting occurred successful aboriginal December.
Then, during the archetypal week of January, shots were fired astatine the location of authorities Senator Linda Lopez – a pb sponsor of a 2021 measure that reversed New Mexico’s prohibition connected astir termination procedures.
Lopez said successful a connection that 3 of the bullets passed done her 10-year-old daughter’s bedroom.
Police had been investigating 2 further shootings – 1 successful the vicinity of New Mexico lawyer wide Raul Torrez’s erstwhile run bureau and different astatine authorities Senator Antonio Maestas’ office. But Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesperson for the constabulary department, said Monday the shootings bash not look to beryllium connected to the case.
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