El Paso Walmart Shooter to Plead Guilty, Defense Cites Trump Rhetoric and Mental Illness

Patrick Crusius, who killed 23 people in a 2019 racially motivated attack, is expected to plead guilty to state charges, avoiding the death penalty.

Patrick Crusius is set to plead guilty to state charges of capital murder and aggravated assault on April 21, 2025, as part of a plea deal ensuring life imprisonment without parole.
Crusius’ defense attorney claims the shooter believed he was acting under the influence of Donald Trump’s rhetoric about a 'Hispanic invasion.'
The defense highlighted Crusius’ radicalization through extremist white nationalist websites like 4Chan and 8Chan in the years leading up to the attack.
Crusius has been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mental illness characterized by auditory and visual hallucinations, which his attorney argues contributed to his actions.
The 2019 El Paso shooting remains one of the deadliest hate crimes in U.S. history, sparking ongoing discussions about the intersections of political rhetoric, extremism, and accountability.