New Mexico police investigate shootings at Democrats' homes, offices
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The city of in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images
Multiple shootings have occurred at the homes and offices of elected Democratic officials in New Mexico in the last month, Albuquerque police said.
Why it matters: While police are still trying to determine if the incidents are connected, they are the latest attacks that have targeted elected officials, and come amid a rising number of threats against politicians.
Driving the news: Local and federal authorities are still investigating the shootings, which happened on five separate days, police said.
- Nobody was injured in the attacks, but the shootings caused damage to three homes.
- Police originally said there were four shootings before announcing in a statement on Thursday that a fifth attack occurred on Dec. 10 at the former campaign office for newly elected New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
Zoom in: Albuquerque police said the shootings began on Dec. 4 when Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa's home was targeted.
- One week later, more than a dozen shots were fired at the home of former commissioner Debbie O’Malley, police said.
- At least eight shots were fired at the homes of state Sen. Linda Lopez on Jan. 3 and three shots were fired at the office of state Sen. Moe Maestas on Jan. 5, ABQ police said.
What they're saying: "I am deeply concerned about the shootings that have occurred at the residences of some of our elected officials," Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina tweeted Thursday.
- Detectives are gathering evidence from four different incidents and working with "federal partners to analyze the evidence," Medina said.
- “Fortunately, nobody has been injured by these shootings,” Medina said in a press release. “But every time someone fires a gun into a home or business, there is a potential for tragedy. Our detectives are working overtime to track down the offender or offenders and hold them responsible.”
Republican lawmakers said in a statement to AP that they were "incredibly grateful that our Senate colleagues, their families, and the other victims are uninjured."
- “The Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico State Police, and the FBI have launched an investigation and we eagerly await the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrator.”
The big picture: More than 9,000 threats were made against members of Congress in the past year, the U.S. Capitol Police said in December. That's an increase of about 400% over the last six years.
- Last summer, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) was attacked onstage during a campaign event.
- In October, an assailant came to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's home in San Francisco and attacked her husband, Paul, with a hammer, causing serious injuries.
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