Shooting at New Mexico Conquistadors statue protest
A suspect has been arrested on suspicion of fatally shooting a man during a protest in Española, New Mexico, where authorities were planning to install a statue of Spanish conquistador Juan de Oñate, authorities said.
One of the three defendants was linked to a series of drive-by shootings at the homes of state and local politicians in Albuquerque after the 2022 election, according to federal court filings made public Tuesday. Pleaded guilty to federal charges.
Jose Luise Trujillo pleaded guilty during a hearing Monday to charges of conspiracy, election interference, unlawful use of a firearm and possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Federal and local prosecutors say the attack was orchestrated by former Republican candidate Solomon Peña with the involvement of Trujillo and a third man. Peña maintains his innocence.
The attacks on the homes of four Democratic Party officials, including the current state House speaker, occurred in December 2022, amid a surge in threats and intimidation against election workers and public servants across the United States following former President Donald Trump and his presidential election. It happened in January 2023. Allies spread false claims about the results of the 2020 presidential election.
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Trujillo, 22, is scheduled to be sentenced in April. His attorney, John Anderson, declined to comment on the plea deal beyond what is in court records.
Alexander Ubarez, a U.S. attorney in Albuquerque, said the shootings targeted the homes of two county commissioners shortly afterward, citing the certification of the 2022 election in which Peña could not run for state representative. No one was injured, but a bullet penetrated the bedroom of the state senator's 10-year-old daughter.
Jose Luise Trujillo, one of the defendants in the drive-by shooting at the homes of state and local legislators in Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, election interference, unlawful use of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. .
Ubarez and FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said in a statement Tuesday that Trujillo will remain in custody pending sentencing and pressure Bernalillo County commissioners to refuse to certify local election results. It also outlined accusations that Trujillo was paid by Mr. Peña to do so.
Jose's father, Demetrio Trujillo, is also facing federal charges for allegedly helping Peña obtain vehicles and firearms, as well as firing into the victim's home.
Peña and Demetrio Trujillo, who maintains his innocence, are scheduled to stand trial in June.
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Jose Trujillo was arrested in January on an outstanding warrant. Authorities said the suspect had more than 800 fentanyl pills and two firearms in his car, and the investigation was halted after officers traced at least one gun and shell casings found at the scene of the shooting. .
In response to the shooting, the New Mexico state legislature enacted a bill that would make it a felony for threatening election officials and allow some public officials and political candidates to withhold their home addresses from government websites.
