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A Republican candidate for the New Mexico legislature, who police say was rigged in the election, has been arrested on suspicion of masterminding the latest shooting, police say.
Solomon Pena, who lost the 2022 race for the state's 14th district, was arrested Monday by Albuquerque police on charges of paying and conspiring with four people to shoot up the homes of two state legislators and two county commissioners, the authorities said. authorities.
"He is believed to be the mastermind behind the December and early January shootings," Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said at a news conference.
CNN reached out to Penan's campaign page for comment and was unable to identify the lawyer.
Before the shooting, police say, Pena went to the homes of a deputy and some county commissioners in November after he lost an election with a note suggesting voter fraud.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keeler said Monday that the investigation found that "these shootings were, in fact, politically motivated."
"Ultimately, it was about pushing back against the far right, the election that took place today, and the person who did their worst when there was a political dispute that escalated into violence." said Keller, who is a Democrat. "We know we don't always agree with our elected officials, but this shouldn't lead to violence."
Doubts about the accuracy of the polls, mostly among Republicans and often without proof, grew across the country after then-President Donald Trump won his re-election bid and began spreading fake news about the presidential election. 2020. The ads sparked outrage and unrelenting threats of violence against government officials everywhere.
Bina has been charged in connection with four shootings. the December 4 incident at the home of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adrian Barbois; On December 8, shots were fired at the house of Javier Martínez, future president of the Chamber of Deputies. the December 11 shooting at the home of Bernalillo Commissioner Debbie O'Malley; and the Jan. 3 shooting at the home of state Sen. Linda Lopez, according to a police news release.
And in the latest shooting, police found evidence that "Pena himself was involved in this shooting and pulled the trigger on at least one of the weapons that was used," the Albuquerque police chief said. But the assault rifle he tried to use misfired and another shooter fired more than 12 rounds, according to police reports.
Hartzok added that the department is investigating whether the suspects in the shooting "knew who the targets were or knew they were shooting."
"No one was injured in the shooting at the four houses," Albuquerque police said in a statement.
Barbeau told CNN This Morning on Tuesday that he was grateful to have been arrested at what local investigators said was the scene of the first shooting.
"I'm glad he won't be bothering people like that again," he said.
Police said five people were involved in the plot.
During the fall campaign, Peña's rival, Democratic Rep. Miguel Garcia, sued to remove Peña from the ballot, saying Peña's prior conviction should prevent him from running for state office, according to CNN affiliate KOAT. . KWAT reports that Peña served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2008 for stealing a large quantity of merchandise.
“You can't hide from your story,” Peña said in September. "I just had a desire to improve my life."
A judge from the Benya District Court was allowed to participate in the elections, the KWAT party reported. He lost the race to Garcia 26%-74%.
"After the November elections, Salomón Peña signed a contract with a certain amount of money per person to carry out at least two executions. In one case, shots were fired at the legislature in a matter of hours," Hartzok said Monday. in reference to the investigation.
Weapons evidence, surveillance video, electronic and cellphone recordings, as well as witnesses at and around the scene, aided in the investigation and linked the five men to the plot, Hartsock said.
Police said in a statement Monday that investigators issued search warrants at Bina's apartment and at the home of two people Bina allegedly paid for.
Hartsock added that officers arrested Benan for "aiding and abetting all four shootings, either at his request or through his personal involvement."
Police last week announced a suspect was in custody and seized weapons related to the shooting at the home of elected officials. The agency said that the car in which one of the filming scenes was being driven was registered to Peña.
"Investigators no longer believe the shooting is related to reports of shootings at the attorney general's office or the state senator's attorney's office," the news release read.
"This attack is (surprisingly) difficult to pull off.
The O'Malley County commissioner at the time, who local police say was shot to death in December, said he was pleased with his arrest.
"I am very happy and so is my family. I am very grateful for the work that the police do." He added that O'Malley and her husband were asleep Dec. 11 when more than a dozen shots were fired at their Albuquerque home.
After returning from Christmas shopping, Barbeau said she found the bullet at her home.
"It was horrible. Four shots were fired through the front door and windows of my house just hours before my grandmother and I were playing in the living room," Barbois said in a statement. Especially considering that other women and elected officials have been targeted along with children and grandparents."
House Speaker Martinez, whose home was bombed, told CNN in a statement that he is grateful the suspect is in custody. "We have seen a lot of political violence recently, and all these incidents are a stark reminder that instilling fear, escalating tension and inciting hatred can have devastating consequences," he said.
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