Albuquerque Police Arrest Republican Candidate in Connection with Shootings at Democratic Politicians’ Homes

The Albuquerque Police Department has announced the arrest of Solomon Pena, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the House District 14 seat in the South Valley, in connection with the shootings at the homes of local Democratic politicians.

At a news conference on Monday evening, Police Chief Michael Geier said Pena is accused of conspiring with and paying four other men to shoot at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators.

Geier said the police department had previously believed two other shootings were linked to the case, but they have not been connected to Pena. On January 9th, police arrested another suspect in the case and took possession of a firearm possibly used in one of the shootings.

Pena ran for the House District 14 seat in the 2022 election and lost. He is currently being held in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

The Albuquerque Police Department is continuing to investigate the shootings and is asking anyone with information to contact them. They are also asking anyone who may have been a victim of a similar crime to come forward.