Suspect in custody in connection with shootings targeting New Mexico Democrats' homes, offices

A male suspect is in custody in connection with a series of shootings targeting the homes or offices of Democratic lawmakers, and a firearm linked to one of the attacks has been recovered by police, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina announced Monday.

"We are not going to get into details as this is still an active investigation," Medina said. "We're trying to still wait and see which cases are related in which cases are not related."

The announcement comes after police said a sixth shooting, which happened in early December, may be tied to the apparent string of attacks. The home of Rep. Javier Martinez, the incoming New Mexico State House speaker, was targeted.

Martinez inspected his home following reports of gunshots fired into other Democratic lawmakers homes and discovered what he thought was damage from gunfire heard in early December. Detectives said they located evidence of a shooting.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Martinez said he is working closely with Albuquerque police to investigate the incident.

“I share the anger of my fellow elected officials and all those who have been targeted by such senseless acts of violence," he said. "We're hopeful that those responsible will be caught and swiftly brought to justice.”

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller told reporters Monday that since "day one" the city has taken the shootings seriously.

"These are individuals who participate in democracy, whether we agree with them or not," Keller said. "And that's why this act of violence, I think, has been so rattling for so many people.

Albuquerque police are working with state police and the FBI to investigate the shootings.

Medina said Monday that investigators are still working to confirm whether the shootings are connected or motivated by political ideology, though they have "ideas" regarding the suspect's motive.

Whether other New Mexico lawmakers are still at risk is "unknown," Medina said.

The shootings began in early December when eight rounds were fired at the home of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, police said in a press release. A week later, more than a dozen shots were fired at the home of former Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley.

Another shooting, occurring between those two attacks, was detected by police technology in the vicinity of New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez' former campaign office. No one was in the building at the time, and police found no damage.

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This week, both state Sen. Linda Lopez' home and state Sen. Moe Maestas' office were targeted.

So far, no one has been injured in the shootings.

The attack on Maestas' office, which occurred on Jan. 5, is the most recent attack known. He told the Associated Press that employees at his law office heard loud, rapid-fire shots just outside on Thursday and called 911.

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“I don’t think it’s anything we did or said, but just the fact that we’re elected officials,” Maestas said. “Hopefully they (law enforcement) can get a semblance of a motive.”

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspect in custody for shootings of Dem lawmakers' homes, offices: police