Solomon Peña, Albuquerque Shooting Suspect, 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know

Solomon Peña is a former Republican legislative candidate in New Mexico who is accused of conspiring with four other men to shoot at the homes of four Democratic elected officials in Albuquerque, according to Albuquerque police.

“APD has arrested Solomon Peña for the recent shootings at local lawmakers’ homes,” police tweeted on January 16, 2023. “Peña, an unsuccessful legislative candidate in the 2022 election, is accused of conspiring with, and paying four other men to shoot at the homes of 2 county commissioners and 2 state legislators.”

According to a campaign press release, Pena, a Republican, launched a failed bid for legislature last November using the campaign slogan, “New Mexico deserves a 2nd chance.”

Democratic Representative Miguel P. Garcia, an incumbent, defeated Pena 73.6% to 26.4% in the November 2022 election, according to Ballotpedia, which reported that Pena ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said in a January 16, 2023, news conference that a SWAT team took Pena into custody earlier that day.