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El Paso Walmart Shooter to Plead Guilty in State Case, Avoiding Death Penalty

Patrick Crusius, who killed 23 people in a 2019 racially motivated attack, will receive a life sentence without parole following victims' families' support for a swift resolution.

El Paso Walmart mass shooter Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old male from Allen, Texas, accused of killing 22 and injuring 25, pleads not guilty during his arraignment, in El Paso, Texas, U.S. October 10, 2019. Briana Sanchez/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Gloria Garces kneels in front of crosses at a makeshift memorial, in El Paso, Texas, on Aug. 6, 2019.
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Guests visit the memorial on the third anniversary of the Walmart mass shooting that left 23 dead, at the El Paso County Healing Garden on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022.

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.