Key takeaways:
- Solomon Pena, a failed Republican state House candidate, was arrested in connection to multiple shootings at the homes of state Democratic officials.
- The state will request that Pena be detained before trial and has evidence to prosecute him.
- Republican lawmakers have scrambled to distance themselves from Pena, and the investigation into the shootings is ongoing.
A failed Republican state House candidate and election denier, Solomon Pena, was arrested this week in connection to multiple shootings at the homes of state Democratic officials. Pena, who lost his race for the New Mexico state House, is accused of conspiring with and paying four men to carry out the shootings at the Albuquerque-area homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two state legislators.
Assistant District Attorney Keith Rinaldi disclosed that the state will request that Pena be detained before trial. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman said New Mexico officials believe they have “the pieces of the puzzle” and “the evidence” needed to prosecute Pena. Bregman added that Pena was “the mastermind of trying to strike fear in the hearts and minds of elected officials because he didn’t like the outcome of an election.”
Pena made his first court appearance Wednesday and was ordered held without bail by Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Judge Jill Martinez. In response to Pena’s arrest, Republican lawmakers have scrambled to distance themselves from the suspect.
The shootings have sparked fear among state and local Democratic leaders, who have called for increased security measures. The investigation into the shootings is ongoing, and police are still searching for the four men who were allegedly paid by Pena to carry out the attacks.
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