EL PASO, Texas – Almost four years after the massacre at the Walmart in El Paso, Texas, a United States federal court sentenced Patrick Wood Crusius to 90 life sentences for the shooting, which was one of the deadliest in the state. and that left 23 people dead and dozens more injured.
In February, the now sentenced pleaded guilty to 23 counts of committing a hate crime resulting in death, 23 counts of using a firearm to commit murder during or in connection with a crime of violence, 22 counts of committing a crime charge involving an intent to kill and 22 counts of using a firearm during and in retaliation for a crime of violence.
In addition, the 24-year-old agreed to accept up to 90 consecutive life sentences, avoiding the possible death penalty in the federal case.
The shooter still faces capital murder charges in state court and could face the death penalty if convicted.
It is unclear when that state case will proceed. In November, the former El Paso County district attorney resigned amid mounting criticism of her performance on the job, including allegations that problems in her office were holding up Crusius’ case.
THE AUGUST 3 SHOOTING AS OF 2019
According to authorities, Crusius drove for more than nine hours from his residence in Allen, Texas, then pulled into the store’s parking lot and began shooting with an AK-47 weapon, known as a “cuerno de chivo,” continuing his deadly aim. inside the supermarket.
As they approached the store, the shooter fired at participants at a fundraiser for a women’s soccer team. He continued to herd shoppers into a bench near the entrance, before firing at the checkout area and people in the aisles.
The shooting was reported at 10:39 a.m. but police arrived on the scene six minutes later. It was about 12:40 p.m. when he was pulled over and confessed to officers who pulled him over at an intersection, according to police.
He was arrested without resistance by El Paso Police Department (EPPD) officers and charged with capital murder in the aftermath of the incident.
According to the police report, on the day of the massacre, Crusius fled the scene of the shooting in his car but turned himself in to authorities less than an hour later. In his statement he said: “I am the shooter.”
More than two dozen people were injured and many others severely traumatized as they hid or fled.
THE VICTIMS
The people who died were a group varied in age and occupation. They included a 15-year-old high school athlete, several immigrants, a retired bus driver, teachers, shopkeepers, as well as several Mexican citizens who had crossed the border into the United States to make routine purchases.
Among the many cases of victims and survivors that shocked the world was the baby named Paul Anchondo, who survived by being allegedly protected from bullets by his mother. Both of his parents lost their lives in the shooting.
Here are the names of all the people who lost their lives in the El Paso Walmart massacre:
- Jordan Anchondo
- André Anchondo
- Arturo Benavidez
- javier rodriguez
- Sara Esther Regalado Moriel
- Adolfo Cerros Hernandez
- Gloria Irma Marquez
- Maria Eugenia Legarreta Rothe
- Ivan Manzano
- Juan de Dios Velazquez Chairez
- david johnson
- Leonardo Campos Jr.
- Maribel Campos (Loya)
- Angelina Silva Englisbee
- Maria Flores
- Raul Flores
- Jorge Calvillo Garcia
- Alexander Gerhard Hoffmann
- Luis Alfonzo Juarez
- Elsa Mendoza de la Mora
- Margie Recard
- Teresa Sanchez
- Guillermo “Memo” Garcia
