Admitted gunman in shooting attacks on elected officials airs contempt for Solomon Peña

The man who admitted to pulling the trigger in at least two shootings on the homes of elected officials told jurors Wednesday that he “hated” Solomon Peña, who prosecutors allege orchestrated the attacks.

Demetrio Trujillo, 42, continued his testimony Wednesday in Peña’s trial on federal charges alleging he instigated the shootings at the homes of four Democratic elected officials in December 2022 and January 2023.

Trujillo told jurors on Wednesday that Peña exploited his son, Jose Trujillo, 24, and that the elder Trujillo took actions to protect his son from Peña’s influence.

“He was just using my son,” Trujillo said of Peña. “He didn’t care. He was just using Jose.”

Peña gave money to Jose Trujillo’s mother and began frequenting the trailer where she and Jose Trujillo lived, he testified. Peña became a regular visitor to the trailer in the months before the November 2022 election.

“I hated that my son started hanging around him more,” Demetrio Trujillo said of Peña. “He didn’t give a s--- about my son and I hate him for that.”

Trujillo, who remains in federal custody, testified in shackles and handcuffs for a second day Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque.

The trial is scheduled to continue through March 21 before U.S. District Judge Kea W. Riggs.

Prosecutors allege Peña conspired with the Trujillos to target the homes of Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, former commissioner Debbie O’Malley and two Democratic lawmakers, House Speaker Javier Martínez and state Sen. Linda Lopez.

Peña was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2023, alleging “Peña organized a shooting spree that targeted the homes of four elected officials and their families.”

Federal prosecutors allege that Peña was motivated by his November 2022 election loss to incumbent Democratic Rep. Miguel P. Garcia and his belief that Democratic officials had “rigged” the election.

He faces of total of 13 federal charges. Among them are multiple felony counts of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, including one count alleging he used and discharged a machine gun.

Peña faces a possible sentence of life in prison if convicted on all charges.

Demetrio Trujillo testified Tuesday that Peña paid him a total of $1,400 to fire gunshots at the homes of Barboa and Martínez.

Peña’s attorneys told jurors in opening statements that Demetrio and Jose Trujillo were solely responsible for the shootings at the homes of the four Democratic officials. Jose Trujillo is expected to testify later in the trial.

Peña “had nothing whatsoever to do” with the shootings, defense attorney Nicholas Hart said in opening statements.

Defense attorneys also contend that the Trujillos obtained favorable plea agreements in exchange for their testimony.

Both of the Trujillos pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple federal charges and face sentences of up to life in prison. Neither man has been scheduled for a sentencing hearing.

Under questioning by Peña’s attorney Carter Harrison, Trujillo acknowledged that he could be sentenced to a minimum of 15 years in prison under his plea agreement.

Harrison also questioned Trujillo about his alleged affiliation with the prison gang Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, or SNM. Harrison said FBI agents questioned Trujillo in 2022 about SNM’s “motives and capabilities” to carry out assassinations of federal agents and judges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Peña objected that the insertion of SNM is “highly inflammatory.” The judge allowed limited questioning but warned Harrison to avoid “theatrics.”

With the jury absent from the courtroom, Trujillo said he had only limited association with the notorious prison gang and was punished for failing to carry out a killing at the request of SNM leaders.

“SNM is trying to kill me because I refused to carry out a hit,” he said. “So they green-lighted me.” Trujillo also said he has no interest in politics and knows nothing about plans to kill government officials.

Trujillo has also testified that he didn’t know the names or political status of the people whose homes he shot at in December 2022 and January 2023.