An unsuccessful Republican candidate for the New Mexico House visited. The homes of local Democratic leaders to sharply. Debate weeks before his election defeat. After he allegedly fired many shots at their house, elected officials said.
Rep. Solomon Pena is accused of conspiring. And paying four people to carry out four shootings. At the homes of two Albuquerque-area Bernalillo County commissioners. And two state legislators, Albuquerque police said.
Efforts to reach Pena on Tuesday were not successful.
Pena came to my house right after the [November] election. And how many doors he knocked. On and how the votes didn’t match up,” Bernalillo County Commissioner. Adrian Barboa said in a phone interview.
Barboa said he called the police after the incident.
“He was at my door, and he was aggressive. He was an election denier, The first in a series of shootings targeting local and state Democrats.
Former County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley shared a similar experience with Pena. An avowed supporter of President Donald Trump who publicly disputed the election results. This happened when he called Barbois. Pena visited O’Malley’s former home before tracking him down to his current address.
“This guy came to my house. I was very concerned about it, and it was very uncomfortable. He was angry about losing the election,” she said. “He felt the election was unfair and untrue.”
Although he did not threaten her during the November encounter, she called authorities. Deputies then patrolled his home for several days.
He “could have killed us,” O’Malley said.
‘Desired Effects of Gun War’
Police found a Glock 17 and an assault rifle, more than 800 fake oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl. And a large amount of cash in a Nissan Maxima. They pulled over in a routine traffic stop less than an hour after the shooting outside the home. . State Sen. Linda Lopez, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday.
The car was Pena’s, but a man — who police later discovered was one of four men hired to shoot Pena. Was behind the wheel of the car just 5 miles from the shooting.
It was later discovered that a gun in the car appeared to have been fired outside. Lopez’s home, the complaint said. A shell casing found in the Maxima also matched items found outside the home. Of new state House Speaker Javier Martinez on Dec. 8, police said.
Using Trujillo’s cellphone records and an informant. Police discovered that Pena sent addresses, instructions. Coded messages and meeting points to those involved in the shooting. Which allegedly involved the driver and his two brothers, and paid them all $500. DVD for the first shooting, the complaint said.
The informant, who was also present at the shooting. Claimed that a man told the gunmen to aim above the window of the house. So as not to hit anyone, but Pena later complained, because he “wanted the shooting to be more aggressive.”
Pena “wanted them to aim down and shoot around 8 p.m. because the occupants would likely not be lying down.” The complaint said, which would “increase the likelihood. Of the shooting having the desired effect.”
It had the effect of scaring the victims, it turns out, as Lopez. Allegedly described her 10-year-old daughter as having a spider. “Crawl on her face” and later “asked why it felt like it was there.” There was sand on the bed.
Face and bed” by the bullet passing over her bedroom. Officers found 12 bullet holes in the home.
An aggrieved election denier
Police said Pena may have been motivated by anger over his November loss. Police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said at a news conference Monday. That Pena claimed his defeat was the result of election fraud.
Pena is facing incumbent Democrat Miguel P. in his state House challenge. Losing to Garcia 5,679 to 2,033, or 74% to 26%. Despite his persistence on Twitter and in other statements. There is no evidence to support his claims of fraud.
“No. It is rigged. Plain and simple,” Peña responded on November 16 in a post on his official Twitter account.
He took his case to three county commissioners. And a state senator — some of whose homes were targeted by gunfire. To no avail, Gallegos said.
