“We’re worried and concerned that these are connected and possibly politically motivated or personally motivated,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, left, mentioned of a string of shootings. He’s seen right here alongside Police Chief Harold Medina throughout a press convention through the Albuquerque Police Department’s Facebook livestream.

Screenshot by NPR

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Screenshot by NPR

“We’re worried and concerned that these are connected and possibly politically motivated or personally motivated,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, left, mentioned of a string of shootings. He’s seen right here alongside Police Chief Harold Medina throughout a press convention through the Albuquerque Police Department’s Facebook livestream.

Screenshot by NPR

Local and state police are working with the FBI in Albuquerque, N.M., to research 5 shootings which have focused Democratic politicians’ properties or places of work since up to now month.

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, whose residence was the primary to come back underneath fireplace, advised NPR on Friday that the assaults have been troublesome to course of, “especially knowing that other women of color elected officials have also been targeted.”

In the assaults, a number of rounds have been fired into the doorways and partitions of buildings — in some circumstances whereas elected officers have been inside with their households — however nobody has been harm.

“We’re grateful that nobody has been injured, but we also realize that we have to move quickly,” Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said at a news conference in regards to the assaults.

His level was underlined by latest occasions: Authorities had deliberate to focus on the shootings on Thursday, after a state senator’s residence was fired at on Tuesday — after which got here phrase of but extra gunfire with a political goal, as bullets struck a second state senator’s workplace Thursday morning.

“We do have some leads,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller mentioned. He acknowledged the plain connection of all of the victims belonging to the identical celebration, however warned folks to not speculate in regards to the violence whereas proof nonetheless is being gathered.

“We’re worried and concerned that these are connected and possibly politically motivated or personally motivated,” Keller mentioned. “But we don’t know that for a fact.”

Timeline of the shootings

Sunday, Dec. 4 — At 4:41 p.m. somebody fired eight photographs at Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa’s residence in southeast Albuquerque. “In early December, I returned from Christmas shopping to my home being shot up; it was terrifying,” Barboa advised NPR on Friday. “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.”

Saturday, Dec. 10 — The marketing campaign workplace in downtown Albuquerque for Raúl Torrez, the state’s new lawyer basic, was shot at within the early morning “after we had already moved out,” a marketing campaign consultant advised NPR, including that the marketing campaign is working with regulation enforcement. Police officers collected proof on the time, and that proof now could be being analyzed for any potential ties to the opposite shootings in Albuquerque.

Sunday, Dec. 11 — A barrage of gunfire hit the house of then-Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O’Malley within the North Valley space. “More than a dozen gunshot impacts were identified on walls and the house,” Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos advised NPR.

Tuesday, Jan. 3 — The residence of state Sen. Linda Lopez was focused in southwest Albuquerque. “At least eight shots were fired at her home after midnight,” Gallegos mentioned. Showing reporters from the Albuquerque Journal a number of bullet holes in her storage, Lopez mentioned it was the primary time she skilled “a very personal attack on me and my family.”

Thursday, Jan. 5 — Police gunshot-detection sensors registered three photographs fired close to the downtown regulation workplace the place state Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas works, at 11:41 a.m. Police did not discover any signal of harm. Maestas thanked police via Twitter, saying his household was secure and sound.

Detectives are sifting by video and different proof

The assaults on elected officers are a high precedence for investigators, Medina mentioned at Thursday’s information convention, including that the police are collating proof, together with video collected by intersection cameras and stories by ShotSpotter installations that detect gunfire.

“They will work this nonstop until we can hopefully get this case resolved,” Medina mentioned.

The authorities are asking the general public for assist, hoping residents may ship in details about folks or autos close to the assaults, or threats made on social media towards the politicians.

Medina mentioned his division is reaching out to elected officers throughout Bernalillo County to get a way of potential security considerations, and to contemplate whether or not regulation enforcement may have to supply extra safety to politicians.

As they mentioned the string of assaults, the police and politicians spoke in regards to the bane of gun violence — each in New Mexico and throughout the U.S.

“Too many of the people I love, my neighbors and our communities, have been impacted by violence like this,” Barboa mentioned. “We must do more to end gun violence in and against our communities.”