Republican who denied his election loss arrested over drive-by shootings at Democrats’ homes

The failed Republican candidate that the authorities said was angry because he lost and made baseless claims that the last November election was “rigged” to him arrested in connection with a series of drive-by shootings targeting the homes of Democratic legislators in the largest city in New Mexico.

Solomon Pena, 39, was arrested Monday afternoon, just hours after SWAT officers served a search warrant at his home and took him into custody, police said.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina described Pena as the “mastermind” of what he said appeared to be a politically motivated conspiracy that led to the shootings at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators between early December and early January.

A criminal complaint outlining the exact charges against the former political candidate is expected to be released in the coming days. Additional arrests and charges are also expected, but police declined to elaborate, citing an ongoing investigation.

No one was injured in the shooting, but in one case, three bullets went through the bedroom of a state senator’s 10-year-old daughter.

Pena’s attorney who could comment on the charges was not listed Monday night in jail records.

The race was lost by 48 percentage points

Pena ran unsuccessfully in November against incumbent state representative Miguel P. Garcia, a longtime Democrat representing House District 14 in the South Valley. Garcia won by 48 percentage points, or about 3,600 votes.

In a final tweet on his candidate’s Twitter account, Pena said he “never conceded” and that he was “now researching my options.”

After the election, the police said, Pena appeared uninvited at the elected official’s house with what he claimed was a document proving that he had won the race. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in New Mexico in 2020 or 2022.

The shooting started shortly after that conversation.

“This type of radicalism is a threat to our nation and it has arrived at the doorstep of Albuquerque, New Mexico,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “But I know we’re going to push back, and we’re not going to let this cross the threshold.”

Alleged shooters are not clear on the whole incident

Four people allegedly conspired with Pena, who is accused of paying them to carry out at least two shootings in a stolen vehicle, when Pena “pulled the trigger” during one of the crimes, Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock said.

Detectives identified Pena as the prime suspect using a combination of cellphone and vehicle records, witness interviews and bullets collected from lawmakers’ homes, police said. His arrest comes a week after Medina announced he had identified a suspect in the shooting.

No one was injured in the shooting, which comes amid threats against members of Congress, school board members, election officials and other government workers across the country. In Albuquerque, law enforcement has struggled to overcome years of record homicides and continued gun violence.

The shooting began on December 4, when eight rounds were fired in front of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa. Days later, the home of state Rep. Javier Martinez was targeted, followed by the December 11 shooting at the home of Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley. More than a dozen rounds were fired at his home, police said.

final related shooting, targeting state Sen. Linda Lopez’s home, opened at midnight from January 3. Police said more than a dozen shots were fired and Lopez said three of the bullets passed through the 10-year-old daughter’s bedroom.

Investigators received a break in the case after technology that can detect the sound of gunfire led officers to Lopez’s neighborhood shortly after shots were fired.

Officers found bullet casings matching the handgun found earlier that morning in a Pena-registered Nissan Maxima.

About an hour after the shooting at Lopez’s home, police stopped the Nissan. The driver, identified Monday night as Jose Trujillo, was arrested on an outstanding warrant, which led to the discovery of more than 800 fentanyl pills and two firearms in the car, police said.

Detectives are also investigating two additional shootings initially believed to be related to the Pena case: one near the former campaign office of New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez and another at the office of Sen. Antonio Maestas. Police on Monday said the shooting was unrelated.

The New Mexico Republican Party condemned Pena in a statement Monday night. “If Pena is found guilty, he should be prosecuted according to the law.”