The New Mexico Shooting has stunned the community and prompted calls for the Republican candidate to withdraw substantially from the race.
According to Albuquerque Police, an ex-Republican candidate for the New Mexico House was arrested on Monday for allegedly orchestrating a series of gunfire directed at the homes and offices of Democratic state leaders this winter.
Albuquerque Police suspect Republican Solomon Pena of orchestrating and bribing four men to fire four rounds at the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two state senators in the Albuquerque region.
New Mexico Shooting: Why Was GOP Candidate Solomon Pena Arrested?
Monday evening, SWAT officers arrested Solomon Pena at his residence, according to Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina.
According to Medina, Pena is the “mastermind” of an apparent politically motivated criminal conspiracy that resulted in four gunshots fired at or near the residences of two county commissioners and two state legislators between early December and early January.
In November, Pena was defeated by House District 14 incumbent Miguel P. Garcia, a long-serving Democrat from the South Valley.
Authorities believe he may have been driven by anger over his November defeat. Police spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos indicated at a press conference early on Monday evening that Pena claimed his defeat was the result of electoral fraud.
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Pena, according to the police, contacted county and state officials after his loss, alleging that the election had been rigged against him, despite the fact that there was no proof of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022. The shooting began shortly after these conversations.
This type of radicalism is a menace to our nation, and it has arrived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, according to the city’s mayor, Tim Keller. But I am confident that we will fight back, and we will not allow this to occur.
The event shocked the community, which demanded that Pena withdraws from the Campaign. Additionally, the episode raises substantial worries regarding the security of political events and the danger of political violence.
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Miguel P. Garcia, the incumbent Democrat in the state House, defeated Pena by a score of 5,679 to 2,033, or 74% to 26%.
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Hartsock stated that it was probable that additional arrests and charges would be made in the case, but he declined to comment due to the ongoing investigation. He added that on Monday night, several individuals, including Pena, were held.
According to Deputy Commander Kyle Hartsock, at least five people were involved in the gunfire, including Pena.
According to Hartsock, Pena is suspected of bribing at least two of the shooters before “Pena himself” allegedly “fired the gun” in one of the incidents.
Pena was identified as the “main suspect” by police using telephone data, witness statements, and gunfire from the politicians’ apartments.
His arrest occurs one week after the MedinaPolicepolice head announced the identification of a suspect in the shootings.
No one was injured by the gunfire, which came amid a rise in threats against members of Congress, school board members, election officials, and other government employees.
Albuquerque police enforcement struggled to address consecutive record-breaking years of homicides and pervasive gun violence.
In the next few days, a criminal complaint including Pena’s specific claims was likely to be filed.
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