Failed GOP candidate sentenced to 80 years in connection with shooting spree at Democrat officials' homes

Published: Thursday, August 14, 2025 at 7:25 am

Former GOP Candidate Sentenced to 80 Years in Connection with Shooting Spree

A former Republican candidate has been sentenced to 80 years in prison for orchestrating drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials. Solomon Pea, who ran for a New Mexico state House seat, was convicted on 13 felony charges stemming from the attacks that occurred after his election loss in November 2022.

The shootings, which involved firearms including a machine gun, took place between December 4, 2022, and January 3, 2023. Pea was directly involved in one of the attacks. The targets of the shootings were Democratic officials, including two Bernalillo County commissioners and two New Mexico state legislators. The attacks were allegedly motivated by Pea's unsubstantiated claims of election fraud following his defeat.

Prosecutors stated that Pea pressured county commissioners to not certify the election results, claiming the election was rigged. When they refused, he hired Jose Trujillo and Demetrio Trujillo to carry out the shootings. The two men pleaded guilty last year. Following his arrest, Pea attempted to have the pair murdered to prevent them from testifying.

The charges against Pea included conspiracy, being a felon in possession of a firearm, intimidation, interference with federally protected activities, and using or carrying a firearm during a crime of violence, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence. While the shootings occurred while family members, including children, were present in the homes, no one was injured. In addition to the prison sentence, Pea was also given three years of supervised release. His lawyer has announced plans to appeal the conviction.

BNN's Perspective: This case underscores the dangerous consequences of spreading unsubstantiated claims and the importance of respecting the democratic process. While political disagreements are inevitable, resorting to violence and intimidation is completely unacceptable and undermines the foundations of a free and fair society. The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes and sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.

Keywords: Solomon Pea, shooting spree, Republican candidate, Democratic officials, election fraud, sentencing, felony charges, drive-by shootings, conspiracy, firearm, intimidation, violence, election results, Jose Trujillo, Demetrio Trujillo, prison sentence

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