New Mexico: Series of Shootings Target Elected Democrats
(Photo : PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)
A series of shootings have happened in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as attacks on several homes and offices in the city have been reported. However, these attacks were targeted and went after several people, namely elected Democrats.
One home had its front door and garage shot up, while in another home belonging to another Democrat, the Associated Press reported that three bullets went into the bedroom of a 10-year-old girl.
Three homes belonging to Democratic officials, as well as a Democrat's office and a campaign office associated with a pair of county commissioners, two state senators, and New Mexico's newly elected attorney general, were all targeted by these attacks.
The first attack happened at the home of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa. The second attack happened just seven days later at the home of former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez's former campaign office was attacked next, though nobody was inside then. The latest targets are State Senator Linda Lopez's home and the office of State Senator Moe Maestas.
Police have reported that nobody was injured so far in these attacks, but this marks the sharp rise in threats to public officials after the events of January 6, 2021, when Donald Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in an effort to overturn the election results.
Since then, several officials, from lawmakers to school board officials, have been targeted in attacks or have been harassed and intimidated in an increasingly polarized country.
No Motive or Suspect Yet on Attacks Against New Mexico Democrats
Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina held a news conference and said that the attacks started happening last December. He admitted that they still do not have a suspect, nor do they have an established motive for these attacks yet, but stated that it was important to notify the public nonetheless.
The police chief then added that they are still processing evidence, and they did not announce the attacks as it was still not clear last December whether or not there was a pattern. However, the New York Times confirmed that he did raise the possibility that the Democrats were targeted in these attacks and that they were "possibly politically motivated."
Bullet casings recovered from the crime scenes will be analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive to determine whether they were discharged from the same firearm.
CNN reported that the FBI has now joined the investigation, as was announced by FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda. They will be working with the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico State Police.
Rising Number of Attacks Against Democrats
Since January 6, more and more Democrats have been attacked, as pointed out by the New York Times. The highest profile attack happened on Nancy Pelosi's husband, Paul Pelosi, who was attacked by a craze Trump supporter who planned to attack and kidnap the then-House Speaker.
Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington State was harassed by a man who came armed with a semiautomatic handgun outside her home, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was almost kidnapped by a far-right group.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Rick Martin
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