Overview

• District Attorney James Montoya announced the decision to withdraw the death penalty in the state case against Patrick Crusius after consulting with victims' families.
• Crusius, who is already serving 90 consecutive life sentences for federal hate crime charges, is expected to plead guilty to state charges on April 21, 2025.
• The plea deal ensures a life sentence without parole, avoiding prolonged legal battles and appeals that could have delayed the case until 2028.
• The 2019 shooting, targeting Hispanic individuals, remains the deadliest mass shooting against Latinos in U.S. history and one of the deadliest overall.
• Some victims' families expressed disappointment with the decision to forgo the death penalty, while a majority supported the resolution for quicker closure.