Federal, state and local officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, are investigating a fifth shooting that may be connected to a string of shootings involving the homes and offices of local Democratic elected leaders as targets.<\/p>\n
The New Mexico Attorney General, two state senators, a current county commissioner, and a former commissioner have been affected by the five separate shootings, the Albuquerque Police Department said in a press release.<\/p>\n
Nobody was injured, and detectives are working to determine if the shootings are related.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur elected officials have chosen to serve, they should never be made to feel in danger in the comfort of their own homes,\u201d Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said. \u201cI have personally spoken with each of the victims, and we are working with them, and other elected officials (to) help provide any information about these incidents and also help them feel safe and be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
The FBI is assisting in the investigation, FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said Thursday at a press conference.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to help follow the evidence,\u201d Bujanda said. \u201cAnd the evidence is going to lead us to exactly the individual or individuals who are responsible for this. This is something we take extremely seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n
The latest shooting to be reported occurred in the early morning hours of December 10 at the former campaign office of Democrat Raul Torrez, who was elected as New Mexico Attorney General, APD said in a news release Thursday.<\/p>\n
APD\u2019s ShotSpotter system \u201cdetected multiple gunshots in the area of the building,\u201d but Torrez had already moved out of the office and was not injured in the shooting, police said.<\/p>\n
Evidence was collected at the scene and \u201cis now being evaluated in connection with the shootings related to four other local, elected officials in Albuquerque,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
The first shooting occurred on December 4 when eight rounds were shot at the home of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa in southeast Albuquerque, police said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn early December, I returned from Christmas shopping to my home being shot up,\u201d Barboa said in a\u00a0statement posted on social media<\/a>. \u201cIt was terrifying. My house had four shots through the front door and windows, where just hours before my grandbaby and I were playing in the living room.\u201d<\/p>\n Days later, on December 11, more than a dozen \u201cgunshot impacts were identified on walls and the house\u201d of then-Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O\u2019Malley in the North Valley, according to police.<\/p>\n On January 3, at least eight shots were fired at the home of state Sen. Linda Lopez in southwest Albuquerque, police said.<\/p>\n \u201cMyself and my children were awakened by some loud noises. Initially I thought they were fireworks,\u201d Lopez told\u00a0CNN affiliate KOAT.<\/a>\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s very scary. You know, as a mom, it\u2019s something you never want to experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Three of the gunshots made it into her daughter\u2019s bedroom and two were fired into Lopez\u2019s bedroom, KOAT reported.<\/p>\n A fourth shooting took place on January 5 when police received reports \u201cof gunshots heard in the area of a downtown law office\u201d where state Sen. Antonio Moe Maestas works.<\/p>\n \u201cAPD\u2019s ShotSpotter system registered three shots fired at the same location at 11:41 a.m.,\u201d police said. \u201cOfficers did not find any damage to the building.\u201d<\/p>\n