Man who killed 23 people in El Paso Walmart shooting pleads guilty and gets 90 life sentences

Feb. 8 (UPI) — The man responsible for killing 23 people and injuring 22 others in a mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas more than three years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to all federal charges against him.

As part of the plea agreement, Patrick Crusius received 90 consecutive life sentences, one for each count of the 90-count federal indictment. court documents show.

Of the charges, Crusius pleaded guilty to 45 counts of violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crime Prevention Act.

In 2020, a 24-year-old man initially pleaded not guilty to charges in connection with the Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas on August 3, 2019. He arrived that day armed with an assault rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

Earlier this month, the Justice Department said it would not seek the death penalty in the case.

Prosecutors allege that Crusius traveled hundreds of miles to carry out the shooting, specifically targeting Hispanics, allegedly posting a document online prior to the attack in which he ranted against immigrants.

Crusius, from the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, also reportedly used the term “Hispanic Invasion of Texas” in the post.

Officials say Crusius described himself as a white nationalist, leaving no doubt that the crime was racially motivated.

“Today, the Justice Department secured a conviction for federal hate crimes and gun offenses against Patrick Wood Crusius, a self-proclaimed white nationalist, in connection with the deadly mass shooting of people believed to be Hispanic immigrants at a Walmart store in El Paso. Texas, in 2019,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

“Nothing can compensate for the immeasurable loss suffered by the loved ones of the victims of this attack, or the terror inflicted on the El Paso community in its aftermath. Today’s actions make it clear that the Justice Department will not tolerate hate-fuelled violence that compromises security. our communities,” he said.

After his arrest, Crusius told investigators that he harassed his victims because they were Hispanic. He also said that he intended to kill, not wound, everyone he shot.

“There is no place in our society today for violence fueled by white nationalists,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark.

“This senseless massacre breaks the law, goes against our values ​​as Americans, and challenges the principles of tolerance and inclusion that define us as a nation. In pleading guilty, the defendant admitted that he killed innocent people on the grounds of being Hispanic.”

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