EL PASO, Texas — A Texas man who killed 23 people in a 2019 attack targeting Hispanic shoppers at an El Paso Walmart pleaded guilty Monday, bringing the state case to a close. The admission comes over five years after the mass shooting near the U.S.-Mexico border on Aug. 3, 2019.
Patrick Crusius, 26, is expected to receive a life sentence in state prison with no possibility of parole. District Attorney James Montoya offered the plea deal to avoid the death penalty on the state charge, noting the desire among most victims' families for the case to reach a swift conclusion.
Crusius had already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in federal court in 2023 after pleading guilty to hate crime and weapons charges. Federal prosecutors also did not pursue the death penalty in that case.
Authorities say Crusius drove more than 10 hours from his home in suburban Dallas to El Paso before opening fire at the Walmart. He used an AK-style rifle, first shooting in the parking lot, then moving inside.
The gunman confessed to the shooting shortly after being taken into custody. He posted to an online message board ahead of the attack, stating it was "in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas" and claiming Hispanics intended to take over the government and economy.
His social media posts referenced rhetoric within the national immigration debate. He expressed support for policies aimed at tackling immigration, including constructing a border wall.
The victims ranged in age from 15 to elderly grandparents. They included immigrants and Mexican nationals crossing the border for shopping trips. One woman who survived but lost her husband noted the undeniable reality of racism.
Crusius's attorney described him as "an individual with a broken brain," stating he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. However, his motive was explicitly stated by the gunman himself following the attack.
The state case faced delays, including changes in the district attorney and the COVID-19 pandemic. For some victims' relatives, ending the legal proceedings offered relief after years of waiting. The gunman received 90 life sentences for the federal charges stemming from the attack that killed 23 people. Language used by the shooter echoed debate about immigration policies. Information about the expected plea and sentencing was available before Monday's hearing.
Crusius is currently in state custody in El Paso but will serve his state life sentence in a Texas state prison facility. The Federal Bureau of Prisons indicated he will be transferred to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice after his state sentencing.
