Former New Mexico House of Representatives Candidate Charged for Shooting Spree

 Albuquerque, New Mexico - Solomon Peña, a former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives, has been charged in an indictment unsealed today for a shooting spree targeting the homes of four elected officials. The charges were filed in the District of New Mexico.

According to court documents, Solomon Peña, 40, ran for District 14 of the New Mexico House of Representatives during the November 2022 mid-term elections. Allegedly, after his electoral defeat in November 2022, Peña organized a series of shootings targeting the homes of two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators. These shootings, one of which involved the use of a machine gun, took place between December 4, 2022, and January 3, with the assistance of co-conspirators Demetrio Trujillo, 41, Jose Trujillo, 22, and others.

Before the shootings occurred, Peña reportedly visited the homes of at least three Bernalillo County commissioners, urging them not to certify the election results and claiming that the election had been rigged against him. Following the certification of the vote by the Bernalillo County board of commissioners, Peña allegedly hired individuals to carry out the shootings, and he himself participated in at least one of them. Shockingly, at least three of the shootings took place while children and other family members of the targeted officials were present in their homes.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division expressed concern over politically motivated violence, stating, "There is no room in our democracy for politically motivated violence, especially when it is used to undermine election results." He emphasized that acts of violence targeting elected officials and their families not only affect individuals but also harm the entire election system. Polite affirmed the Department's commitment to holding individuals accountable for politically motivated violence.

U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez for the District of New Mexico emphasized the significance of the charges, stating, "These charges strike at the heart of our democracy." He stressed that voters, candidates, and election officials must be able to exercise their rights and perform their duties without fear, intimidation, or influence. Uballez affirmed that law enforcement agencies will take a strong stance against those who attempt to disrupt the will of the people.

Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI's Criminal Investigative Division reaffirmed the commitment of the FBI and its partners to ensuring that violent crime investigations remain a top priority. Quesada stated, "We will continue to pursue justice in cases like these in the name of safety for the American people."

Solomon Peña, Demetrio Trujillo, and Jose Trujillo face charges of conspiracy, interference with federally protected activities, and various firearms offenses, including the use of a machine gun. If convicted, Peña faces a mandatory minimum of 60 years in prison. Additionally, Jose Trujillo is charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and firearms offenses, including possession of a machine gun.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Albuquerque Police Department. Senior Litigation Counsel Victor R. Salgado of the Criminal Division's Public Integrity Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeremy Peña and Patrick E. Cordova for the District of New Mexico, are prosecuting the case.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.