Man hired to shoot New Mexico lawmakers' homes sentenced to 15 years in prison

[Ponietz]

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/man-hired-to-shoot-new-mexico-lawmakers-homes-sentenced-to-15-years-in-prison]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – One of the men who shot up Democratic leaders’ homes more than two years ago, stood in court Wednesday and apologized before a judge sentenced him to fifteen years in prison.

Demetrio Trujillo is one of the men who helped failed statehouse candidate, Soloman Peña, orchestrate the attacks in 2022 and 2023. On Wednesday, some of the elected officials who were victims of the attacks were present in the courtroom, sharing how the incident still affects them.

Albuquerque’s Chief of Police Harold Medina said it is the worst political crime the city has ever seen. “It was a direct hit towards democracy,” said APD Chief Harold Medina.

After Solomon Peña lost his bid running on the Republican ticket for state representative in 2022, he led a series of shootings targeting democratic political figures. Demetrio Trujillo was one of the men Peña recruited, along with his son, Jose Louise Trujillo.

The four victims over five weeks included Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, then incoming Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, then Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley, and State Senator Linda Lopez. All four had their homes peppered with bullets.