Mexico

Guilty Verdict in Shooting Targeting New Mexico Officials

**Albuquerque, NM** – A federal jury has found a former New Mexico House of Representatives candidate guilty of orchestrating a series of shootings aimed at the homes of four elected officials and planning to murder witnesses to obstruct trial testimony.

The candidate, Solomon Peña, 40, contested the District 14 seat in the November 2022 mid-term elections. Following his electoral defeat, Peña pressured the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners to reject certifying the election results, which were ultimately certified despite his efforts. Peña, along with accomplices Demetrio Trujillo, 41, and Jose Trujillo, 24, conducted shootings at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators between December 4, 2022, and January 3, 2023, with one incident involving a machine gun.

Jose Trujillo entered a guilty plea on January 9 to charges including conspiracy, firearm offenses, and fentanyl distribution, with sentencing set for April 14. Demetrio Trujillo also pleaded guilty on February 1 to similar charges; his sentencing is scheduled for May 21. Following his arrest, Peña attempted to solicit fellow inmates to organize