Police in Albuquerque investigate four shootings allegedly targeting politicians

By Steve Gorman

(Reuters) – The Albuquerque Police Department said Thursday that they are investigating possible connections between four shootings at homes or places of business of two New Mexico state senators and two county commissioners in the last month.

Police said that nobody was hurt in the four shootings. The most recent occurred on Thursday just before noon.

According to an Albuquerque Police Department statement, the building was uninjured.

According to police, the bullet damage caused by the shootings of Dec. 4, Dec. 11, and Jan. 3 was done to three other elected officials, namely Bernalillo Commissioner Adriann Barboa (then-Commissioner Debbie O’Malley) and Linda Lopez (state senator),

All four politicians were Democrats, but police did not give any indications about a motive or why investigators believe the shootings may have been connected.

“Our detectives are working overtime in pursuit of the offender/offenders and hold them accountable,” said Harold Medina, chief of city police.

According to police, eight rounds were fired on Barboa’s house. O’Malley’s house received more than 12 and Lopez’s house at least 8.

Officers responded to the report of gunshots being heard near Maestas’ office. According to the department investigators, they found three rounds of ammunition at the location. However, no damage to buildings was observed.

“Detectives are working with the police to determine if the shootings are connected,” they stated in a statement.

The shootings took place amid highly partisan rhetoric, rising fears of politically motivated violence at every level of the United States government and a backdrop of increasing fear.

These concerns have been magnified since the attack on U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, 2020 by a mob led by supporters of Donald Trump. Also, the recent assault on Nancy Pelosi’s husband and revelations about a plot against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

(Reporting by Steve Gorman, Los Angeles; Editing By Robert Birsel