#Ryan Lane | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dontmeantobepoliticalbut · 1 year

Text

Albuquerque Police on Monday arrested the man they say is the “mastermind” behind a recent string of shootings targeting Democratic lawmakers’ homes.

The suspect, Solomon Pena, is a Republican who unsuccessfully ran for office in November, has made repeated claims that the election was rigged and appears to have attended the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington, D.C.

Around 3 p.m. APD’s SWAT team swarmed a condominium complex near the ABQ BioPark Zoo to execute a search warrant. They made announcements for Pena — who they said may be armed with a firearm — to surrender as drones flew overhead.

Within an hour officers had arrested Pena, who is accused of paying four men to shoot at the homes of two county commissioners and two state legislators, Police Chief Harold Medina announced Monday evening. Investigators also believe Pena was present for at least one of the shootings.

youtube

One of the four men Pena is accused of hiring, Jose Trujillo, is being prosecuted federally on drug trafficking and firearm charges but the names of the other suspects were not immediately released.

Pena ran unsuccessfully in the House District 14 race and claimed on social media he should have won the election. He also visited three of the targeted officials’ homes unannounced in November complaining the election was fraudulent and should not be certified.

“APD essentially discovered what we had all feared and what we had suspected — that these shootings were indeed politically motivated,” Mayor Tim Keller said at a news conference. “They were dangerous attacks not only to these individuals … but, fundamentally, also to democracy.”

Both Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, and the House Republican Leader Ryan Lane, R-Aztec, issued statements applauding law enforcement and condemning violence.

“There is no place in our society or our democracy for violence against any elected official or their families, and I trust the justice system will hold those responsible for such attacks to full and fair account,” Lujan Grisham said.

Lane said the New Mexico House Republicans are grateful no one was injured in the shootings and referenced Pena’s criminal past — which had been a controversial issue during the campaign.

“This is yet another example of a convicted felon unlawfully gaining access to firearms, which they are barred from owning or possessing, and using the weapon in a manner that causes public harm,” Lane said.

DEMS TARGETED

In early January, APD disclosed that it was investigating several shootings targeting Democratic elected officials’ homes around the city.

They said Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa’s Southeast Albuquerque home had been struck by eight bullets on Dec. 4 and a week later, on Dec. 11, more than 12 bullets hit County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s North Valley home.

On Jan. 3, shots rang out at state Rep. Linda Lopez’s home in Southwest Albuquerque and three bullets went through her daughter’s bedroom as the 10-year-old slept.

After news of the investigation began to circulate, state Rep. Javier Martínez — the current nominee for House speaker and the representative for District 11 in Southwest Albuquerque — inspected his home and noticed it too had sustained damage from bullets. He had heard gunfire outside his home on Dec. 8 and believes that’s when the shooting occurred.

Police also investigated gunshots fired near the campaign office for Raúl Torrez as he ran for state Attorney General and near the office of State Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, but a department spokesman said Monday detectives don’t have any evidence linking Pena and his alleged accomplices to those shootings at this time.

SHOTSPOTTER ASSIST

The break in the case came after the shooting at Lopez’s home.

More than a dozen shots were fired after midnight on Jan. 3, and police received a ShotSpotter notification.

Medina said responding officers found shell casings, but didn’t immediately see any damage.

The state senator who represents District 11 later reported that a bullet struck the ceiling of her daughter’s room. She had awoken to gunfire and felt material falling from the ceiling.

Then, 40 minutes after the shooting, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over 21-year-old Trujillo, who was driving a Nissan Maxima registered to Pena.

Deputies arrested Trujillo on an unrelated warrant, and during an inventory of the car found 800 fentanyl pills and two guns, a Glock handgun with a drum magazine and an AR pistol.

The shell casings found outside Lopez’s home were tested at APD’s crime lab, and they matched the confiscated weapons, police said.

APD acting Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock with the Investigative Enhancement Division said detectives have electronic and cellphone records, surveillance footage and witnesses “inside and outside of this conspiracy that have helped us weave together what occurred.”

“The persons doing the shootings — we are still investigating if they were even aware of who these targets were, or if they were just conducting shootings,” Hartsock said.

He said Pena was at the shooting at Lopez’s home and fired at least one of the guns.

Hartsock said the case is still being investigated and additional charges are likely to be filed against other people.

FAILED CANDIDACY

Pena’s candidacy came under scrutiny over the summer when his opponent, Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, D-Albuquerque, filed a court challenge to disqualify him because he had been convicted in 2008 of stealing large amounts of goods from several big box retail stores in a reported “smash and grab” scheme.

Pena served nearly seven years in prison.

In September, 2nd Judicial District Judge Joshua Allison ruled that a state law barring felons from holding office unless they are pardoned by the governor is unconstitutional so Pena remained on the ballot.

Less than two months later, Pena lost the November election by more than 3,600 votes — garnering 2,033 votes to Garcia’s 5,679.

However, in frequent postings on Twitter, Pena maintained that he didn’t lose and that the election was rigged.

On Nov. 15, Pena posted a photo of himself wearing a red “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt that appeared to have been signed in gold by Donald Trump and said “Trump just announced for 2024. I stand with him. I never conceded my HD 14 race. Now researching my options.”

He also posted a photo of himself that appears to be from Washington, D.C., that he said was “one of the last pictures I have of the Jan 06 trip.”

In a reply to someone calling him a criminal on Dec. 28 on social media, Pena said, “Everyone in the NM government who helped overthrow Trump are the active treasonists who must be placed in Guantanamo Bay Cuba for natural life. Once they are gone I can work on rebuilding Albuquerque.”

On Nov. 17, in response to a Tweet by the New Mexico Secretary of State warning against attempts to manipulate the election certification process, Pena replied “I will attempt to stop the certification in Bernalillo County, until a hand recount has been done. It was rigged!”

EARLY SIGNS

youtube

For Commissioners O’Malley and Barboa and Sen. Lopez, Pena was a familiar face. He had visited each of their homes, uninvited, in the days following the election.

On Nov. 18, O’Malley, Barboa, Charlene Pyskoty and Walt Benson voted 4-0 to certify the general election results. Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada missed the meeting.

O’Malley — whose term as commissioner has since ended — told the Journal on Monday that Pena showed up at her home wanting to talk about what he alleged was election fraud, telling her he believed he should have received more votes because he had knocked on many doors during his campaign.

“He gave me some papers and said ‘I want you to respond,'” she recalled.

She said the packet included what looked like Internet information about voter fraud and a letter.

She had no communication with him after that.

Pena was not hostile, O’Malley said, but the encounter was unsettling enough that she notified law enforcement.

“I thought it was odd, and he seemed a little anxious to me and a little, kind of aggressive, and that kind of put me on alert,” she said.

BCSO personnel checked on her house but did not see anything, and O’Malley did not think about the incident much until someone shot at her house a month later.

Police said Pena also has a black Audi sedan registered under his name, which matches the description of the vehicle he drove to O’Malley’s house in November.

Barboa said she had a similar encounter when Pena showed up on her doorstep asking her not to vote to certify the election results.

“I know our addresses are public, but I was a little thrown off because it’s not usual that people come to our door,” she said.

Barboa said they spoke and he handed her paperwork similar to what others who are questioning elections have given her and other officials during county commission meetings.

The Commissioner said she grew worried for Pena during the encounter as she thought he was making illogical claims about the results of his own race.

“He was just sort of all over the place — the things he was putting together weren’t quite connecting or fitting,” she said. “You can’t say because you knocked on a thousand doors, you know you got a thousand votes.”

She said Monday she was pleased that police were able to make an arrest and quell some of her family’s fear. Her daughter, she said, has been too afraid to bring her child over since the shooting.

“I’m hoping today that this is done that my daughter can bring my grandbaby here again,” Barboa said, while choking back tears.

She said the ordeal will change the way she lives and that she is going to pursue new security strategies for herself and her family.

Plus, Barboa said, it’s distressing that elected officials are now going to take steps to shield themselves from the public — noting that the New Mexico Legislature has already removed some lawmaker contact information from its website in response.

“All of that is going to change because of this and that breaks my heart as someone who believes the public needs access to our elected officials,” she said.

TIMELINE

• On Dec. 4 around 4:41 p.m. eight shots were fired at County Commissioner Adriann Barboa’s home in SE Albuquerque. Barboa said bullets went through her front door as her family was preparing to celebrate Christmas.

• On Dec. 8, Rep. Javier Martínez reportedly heard gunshots outside his home near the North Valley and, after the investigation was announced a month later, found damage “presumably from gunfire” to the house.

• On Dec. 11 in the early morning gunshots were fired at County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley’s home in the North Valley and more than 12 bullets struck the house.

• On Jan. 3 just after midnight, eight shots rang out at Rep. Linda Lopez’s home in SW Albuquerque. Lopez said that three bullets went through her daughter’s bedroom as the 10-year-old slept.

19 notes · View notes

toasttt11 · 8 days

Text

December 31, 2022

The team was playing against the University of North Dakota. The first game back since their Christmas break, a break that made Riley have quite a few realizations.

She stepped on the ice tapping the back of Will and Gabe’s helmets before they lined up waiting for the puck to drop.

Quickly North Dakota scored on the U-18 and Riley already got her first penalty for tripping a player.

North Dakota scored once more making the score become 2-0.

Riley stole the puck from the opposing player and quickly passed it across the ice right to Will, Will quickly brought the puck closer to the net and passed it right across the ice to Gabe, who smacked into the back of the net, making the U-18 finally get a point in the board .

Will and Gabe skated right into Riley and brought her into a group hug, all of them yelling in excitement.

Riley, Gabe and Will all hopped onto the ice for their next shift, Riley took the puck bringing it down the ice towards the goal, she sharply passed it back to Gabe who quickly passed it across the ice to Will and Will quickly took a slap shot onto the net, making the score become tied up 2-2.

“Woohoo!” Gabe yelled happily as Riley and him pulled Will into a tight hug on the ice.

“Nice Smitty.” Riley mumbled knocking her helmet to Will’s helmet.

“Thanks Slugger.” Will beamed back towards his two best friends.

The first period ended with the score 2-2.

Will gently pulled on Riley’s long braid as they stepped back onto the ice for the second period, Gabe smiled at the two watching as Riley turned around playfully glared at Will.

“Leave Snips alone Smitty.” Gabe nudged Will away from her and happily pulled Riley to him, sticking his tongue out playfully at Will.

Will just shook his head with an extremely fond smile before they had to skate to center for the start of the period.

They almost went the entire period before something happened, sadly North Dakota scored again.

With just two minutes left of the period Gabe, Will and Riley hopped onto the ice.

Riley took the puck to the blue line and passed it across the ice straight to Will, who passed it to over to Gabe, Gabe passed it right into the goal.

“Good job Gabe-o.” Riley gave Gabe a proud smile patting him on the shoulder making Gabe beam happily and his cheeks turn pink.

The score was tied 3-3 at the end of the second period.

The third period was slow and all shots were continuously getting blocked making the score stay the same.

Riley turned around seeing an opposing player slam Gabe into the boards, Gabe fell down onto his knees.

Riley felt something snap and she didn’t wait a second before her gloves and stick was thrown to the grown and she pulled the player away from Gabe and started throwing multiple punches at the player.

Will helped Gabe stand up quickly checking him with his eyes and nodded seeing he was okay, they turned around seeing Riley absolutely destroying the player, She was throwing a lot of punches at his face before she was dragged off by the refs still yelling at the player as she continued to get dragged to the penalty box.

Will smirked watching the whole thing and groaned as Gabe elbowed him in the side, “What?” Will looked at Gabriel in question.

“Don’t encourage her.” Gabe sternly told Will, Gabe knew how much Will thought it was hot when Riley fought but he didn’t want her getting hurt anymore.

Riley let out a harsh breath pulling her helmet off and chucking it on the bench before she sat down and ran a hand over her head and winced at her knuckles rubbing on her head.

She put her hands down and winced slighty at her extremely bloody knuckles and the multiple split knuckles, she shook her hands out and grabbed a towel pouring some water on it and wiping some blood off.

Riley already knew she was going to get a stern lecture from Gabe for getting hurt from the fight.

They ended up losing in overtime and Riley managed to avoid the boys for a little longer by heading to the medical team and got her hands all cleaned up.

Riley luckily could take as long as she wanted as the hotel was next to the arena and they walked over so she didn’t need to rush.

She took a long shower leaning into the cold water and let out a breath. She’s been unsettled since she realized her feelings for the boys and truthfully she didn’t know what to do next, like just go up to them and say oh hi i think I’m in love with you both okay cool.

Riley groaned frustrated and just blew out a long breath. She was wondering if her feelings for Gabe and Will were worth the risk of losing her two best friends.

Riley got out of the shower and dried off and just threw on sweatpants and t-shirt not in the mood it put her suit back on and besides mostly everyone is gone so it did not matter if she had it one.

Riley grabbed her bag and reluctantly put on her coat because she knew it worry Gabe is she walked through the snow with no coat even if it would feel nice too.

Riley walked the quick walk back to the hotel, she saw many people walking by all dressed up and she remembered that it was new year’s eve and would be new year in a few hours.

Riley walked into the hotel and chose to take the stairs not wanting to have any human interaction that was not Gabe or Will.

She walked down the hallway and passed her own hotel room to the one next to it, that she knew was open for her.

She quietly walked in and saw the boys cuddled up on a bed and she closed the door behind her. Her heart clenched fondly seeing them cuddling with each other and she knows the two like each other, it’s obvious she just is hopeful that have room for her too in their hearts.

Will looked up and smiled softly seeing Riley in the room, he patted the bed for her to join. Gabe was cuddled into Wills side and has his head hidden in Will’s neck dosing off.

Riley bit her lip but nodded she dropped her stuff on the desk and took her coat and shoes off, she walked over and Will reached up grabbing her hand and pulling her down so she fell gently on to the top and curled up between them.

Gabe sleepily opened his eyes and beamed seeing Riley had joined them and is laying on them, he wrapped an arm around her snuggled even closer to the two.

Will gently rubbed Riley on the back making her relax on them and Will softly smiled and he could practically hear her thinking with questions, “Relax Slugger, we can talk about us when we all wake up.” Will softly reassured her and Riley nodded and laid her head on his chest and began relaxing extremely fast and felt so comfortable cuddling with them both.

The three of them all managed to sleep for a good few hours before the alarm Will had set for the countdown went off.

Gabe rubbed his eyes and smiled again as he realized it wasn’t a dream that Riley was cuddling with them. He looked up and saw Will looking at them with a fond smile. Gabe leaned up more and gave Will his forehead kiss before feeling Riley start to move and saw her eyes slowly blinking open.

“Hi snips.” Gabe spoke softly and gently played with the ends of her hair.

“Hi.” Riley looked between them nervously.

Will and Gabe shared a look a nodded.

“We like you.” Will started off slowly and gently kept rubbing her back especially feeling her tense up in shock.

“And we like each other.” Gabe bluntly told her and smiled hopefully, “So?” Gabe looked at her with hope.

“We uh wanted to wait for you.” Will explained seeing her questioning look, he remembered kissing Gabe for the first time in the summer and knew he was always gonna be stuck with him and Riley.

“All three of us together?” Riley asked titling her head curiously really liking the idea. Will and Gabe but quickly nodded in unison.

“Ok.” Riley bit her lip hiding her smile seeing them both so exicted by her answer.

“Oh thank god. I need to kiss both of you and was gonna die if i had to wait any longer.” Gabe dramatically told them making Riley and Will share a fond look.

Will grabbed his chin softly and pressed his lips passionately to Gabe’s. Gabe quickly kissed him back running a hand through Will’s blonde curls.

Riley smiled watching the two and really enjoyed seeing the two together.

“Don’t forgot about our girl.” Will gave a stern look to Gabe when Gabe whined when they stopped kissing but Will’s words made him perk up.

Gabe looked back at Riley and smiled leaning down pressing his lips to hers gently and almost whined loudly at Riley tugging at his curls.

Will think he almost enjoyed watching them more.

Riley pulled away panting slighty but leaned up to Will, who met her half way and connected his lips to her.

They pulled away from each other and Riley laid her head back down on Will’s chest and grabbed Gabe’s hand intertwining their hands. Will wrapped his arm around Gabe’s shoulder and Gabe scooted closer resting his head next to Riley’s

The sound of fireworks went off like crazy outside as it hit the new year.

34 notes · View notes