TEMPE, Ariz. - An office used by the Democratic party was damaged overnight by several gunshots, leaving bullet holes in the front windows and the glass door, marking the second such incident in approximately two weeks.
On Sept. 23, staff in the Democratic party campaign office in Tempe called the police after noticing the bullet holes in the window upon returning to work.
“We are grateful to Tempe Police for coming quickly to the scene and are fortunate no one was present or injured.” Sean McEnerney, the Arizona coordinated campaign manager for the Democratic Party, said. .
The investigation is still ongoing and classified as a property crime because no one was in the office at the time of the incident. According to the Tempe police, suspects or motives have not been identified. Meanwhile, “extra measures” are being implemented to ensure the safety of staff and others in the area, and all possible motives are being investigated, Tempe police stated.
Ron Barber, former United States Representative who was shot in a road rage incident in Aug. 2023, expressed his concern to ABC15.
“It is a scary thing. I can only imagine how the staff who work in that office are feeling about going back to work,” Barber said.
This concern is especially relevant, considering that Tempe officers stated that the office experienced gunfire earlier this month. On Sept. 16, a similar incident occurred, in which the front windows were shot just after midnight by a BB gun or pellet gun. No injuries were reported in the first incident.
This September has seen an increase in political violence, highlighted by an attempt on former President Donald Trump’s life and damage to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign office. These incidents have raised concerns about violence and safety in the political context.
“We are working with law enforcement to ensure this threat is taken seriously and that our staff members are safe while they’re at work.” Yolanda Bejarano, the Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, stated.
She also said they were working with law enforcement to ensure the threat was taken seriously.
The latest shooting occurred just a few days prior to Vice President Kamala Harris’ return to Arizona as a presidential candidate for a campaign on Sept. 27, further amplifying fears over political safety.