TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Police stormed outside a Democratic campaign office in a quiet suburban Phoenix-area shopping mall Wednesday after two gunshots hit the office’s doors and windows last week. Placed.
Tempe police have not yet identified a suspect or motive, but questions are swirling as party officials fear for their safety.
Read more: Harris campaigns on Arizona’s southern border as she looks to raise immigration issue that could win over supporters
Political violence has already marred this year’s campaign season, with former Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump the target of two assassination attempts at a campaign rally and a Florida golf course.
Recognizing the repeated threats, the U.S. House of Representatives just last week passed a bill that would require the U.S. Secret Service to use the same standards when assigning agents to major presidential candidates as it does for the president and vice president.
Watch Live: Congressional Select Committee on Trump Assassination Attempt and Local Police Hearing
Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris will be touring the southwestern United States over the weekend, stopping near the Arizona border on Friday and in the battleground state of Nevada on Sunday.
Lindsey Bailey was hoping to get a Harris yard sign when she visited the Tempe election office with her 17-year-old daughter on Wednesday. The office was empty and there were bullet holes in the front window.
“There’s so much division in this country and it’s scary,” said Bailey, a 47-year-old nurse.
Tempe police are investigating the strip mall attack as a property crime. The election office, which once housed a barber shop, is located near a day care and fitness center.
In the first shooting on Sept. 16, authorities reported a pellet or BB gun struck the office. Similar to the shooting incident reported on Sept. 23, no one was inside the building at the time and no one was injured, said Sgt. Ryan Cook, public information officer for the Tempe Police Department.
The Tempe location is one of 18 Harris field offices in Arizona.
The current political situation worries Alexis Maher, 29, who works at a nearby furniture store.
“I just think this election season is going to be a little bit scary if things don’t go the way they want,” Maher said.
Detectives are analyzing evidence collected from the scene and Mr Cook said “additional measures” were being taken to ensure the safety of staff and people at the scene.
Mr Cook said police were investigating “all possible motives”. He did not provide further details about the type of weapon used in the second shooting or whether there may have been security camera footage from either of the two nights in question.
