The criminal case against Patrick Crusius, a Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack at a Walmart in El Paso in 2019, is close to ending with Crusius expected to plead guilty to capital murder and receive a sentence of life in prison with no possibility of parole. The El Paso County District Attorney offered Crusius a plea deal last month, removing the possibility of the death penalty for the state charge. Crusius has also been sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in federal court for hate crime and weapons charges, with the death penalty also being taken off the table by federal prosecutors under the Biden administration.
The deadly attack occurred on August 3, 2019, when Crusius, then 21 years old, drove from suburban Dallas to El Paso and opened fire at a Walmart frequented by shoppers from Mexico and the US. He wore earmuffs to mute the sound of his gunfire as he shot people in the parking lot, then continued shooting inside the store with an AK-style rifle, killing nine near the entrance before moving to the checkout area and aisles. Crusius also shot at a passing car, killing an elderly man and injuring his wife, before being apprehended by police.
In online messages before the attack, Crusius expressed anti-Hispanic sentiments and said the shooting was in response to the “Hispanic invasion of Texas.” He targeted Hispanic shoppers and had extreme views on immigration, with posts praising President Donald Trump’s border policies. Crusius later told officers he had targeted Mexicans in the attack. His attorneys have described him as having a mental illness, specifically schizoaffective disorder, which can involve hallucinations, delusions, and mood swings.
The victims of the shooting included a 15-year-old high school athlete, immigrants, and Mexican nationals who were shopping at the Walmart. Among those killed were Jordan and Andre Anchondo, who died while shielding their 2-month-old child; Guillermo “Memo” Garcia, who died from his injuries almost nine months after the shooting; and his wife Jessica Coca Garcia, who was injured but recovered. Families of the victims have experienced significant trauma and emotions related to the drawn-out court case, with some wanting justice through the death penalty while others seeking closure and an end to the legal proceedings.
El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya, who took over the case earlier this year, decided to offer the plea deal to Crusius to bring resolution for the majority of victims’ relatives. Some families were divided on the decision, with Montoya recognizing that seeking the death penalty would have prolonged the trial significantly. Delays in the case, exacerbated by the pandemic, also contributed to the decision to offer the plea deal. Victims’ family members, such as Stephanie Melendez, who lost her father in the shooting, expressed a desire to have the legal process concluded to avoid further trauma and reliving the events of the tragic attack.
