(RepublicanJournal.org) – A New Mexico man has confessed to shooting at the homes of several Democratic officials — and he says a failed Republican candidate paid him to do it. Solomon Peña, who ran for the state legislature in 2022, denies any involvement in the attacks. He will go on trial in June.
In November 2022, Peña ran as the GOP candidate for the New Mexico State House’s District 14 seat. He was defeated by the Democratic incumbent, Michael Garcia, who won a crushing 73.64% of the vote. Garcia has won the seat with over 70% of the vote in every State House election since 2002; however, Peña insisted the vote had been rigged, and refused to concede, saying he was exploring his options.
In the weeks after the election, something disturbing started to happen: Gunfire was aimed at the homes of various Democratic officials. On December 4, 2022, incoming Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa was targeted, with bullets wrecking her front door and windows. On December 8, shots were fired at the house of incoming State House speaker Javier Martinez. Retiring Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s home was shot at on December 11, and finally, State Senator Linda Lopez came under fire on January 3.
On January 16, 2023, Peña was arrested and charged with hiring four men to shoot at the officials’ homes. One of those men, Demetrio Trujillo, has just pleaded guilty to conspiracy, election interference, and using a firearm. He says Peña was the instigator of the attacks and even took part in the shooting at Lopez’s house.
Peña’s lawyer denies the allegations, and says they’re “merely accusations.” Cops believe Peña supplied the guns used in the shootings, which included a Glock handgun with a drum magazine. There has been speculation he may have met the gunmen in prison. In 2008, he was convicted of a smash-and-grab robbery and spent almost seven years behind bars.
Copyright 2024, RepublicanJournal.org
