The gunman who killed 23 people in one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history has been sentenced after agreeing to a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.
Patrick Crusius, 26, pleaded guilty to capital murder and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon Monday.
Crusius had already received 90 consecutive life sentences after pleading guilty to federal hate crimes and weapons charges in 2023.
Highlights
- Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to capital murder, avoiding the death penalty.
- He had already received 90 life sentences for federal hate crimes and weapons charges.
- Crusius targeted Hispanic people, driving nine hours to commit the attack.
- During the attack, 23 people were killed while 22 were injured.
Crusius drove nine hours to target Hispanic people and will now spend the rest of his life behind bars
Image credits: El Paso Police Department
The community college dropout will spend the rest of his life in prison, with no chance of parole, for the racist attack.
El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya did not pursue the death penalty, as the vast majority of affected families wanted the case over with as soon as possible, he said.
If he had pursued the death penalty, the case could have dragged on until 2028, Montoya previously told a press conference, and the case had already been delayed by Covid.
“I know many wanted us to continue pursuing the death penalty against the shooter,” Montoya said in a statement Monday, Reuters reported.
“After nearly six years, many families just wanted it to be over. And now it is,” he said.
On August 3, 2019, Crusius drove nine hours from Allen, Texas, to El Paso and opened fire at a Walmart near the U.S.-Mexico border, targeting Hispanic people.
Minutes before the attack, Crusius—a self-described white nationalist—posted a manifesto titled ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ online.
The post described an “invasion” of immigrants to the U.S.
Crusius also praised then-President Donald Trump for building a wall along the border and welcomed his hardline border policies.
During the attack, 23 people were killed, and 22 people were injured.
Among those killed was a 15-year-old high school athlete.
Crusius was told during sentencing that he failed in his mission and instead inspired unity
Image credits: Sandy Huffaker / Getty Images
Crusius’ defense attorney, Joe Spencer, told the court that his client had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which can be marked by hallucinations, delusions, and mood swings.
About 100 people from the victims’ families were in court during sentencing. Many will be able to give victim impact statements.
“You came to inflict terror, to take innocent lives and to shatter a community that had done nothing but stand for kindness, unity and love,” State District Judge Sam Medrano said during sentencing.
“You slaughtered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.
“Now, as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed.
“You did not divide this city, you strengthened it; you did not silence its voice, you made it louder; you did not instill fear, you inspired unity: El Paso rose, stronger and braver.”