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El Paso Walmart Shooter Sentenced to Life Without Parole After Guilty Plea

Patrick Crusius admitted to targeting Hispanic shoppers in the 2019 racially motivated attack, concluding a yearslong legal process with a plea deal to avoid the death penalty.

Overview

  • Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty in Texas state court to capital murder charges on April 21, 2025, and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole.
  • The plea deal was reached after El Paso District Attorney James Montoya dropped the pursuit of the death penalty, citing the desire of many victims' families for closure.
  • Crusius had previously been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in federal court in 2023 after pleading guilty to hate crimes and weapons charges.
  • The 2019 attack, one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history, killed 23 people and injured 22 others, with Crusius admitting he specifically targeted Hispanics.
  • Victims’ families and survivors began delivering emotional impact statements following the sentencing, marking the final stage of the legal proceedings.