In a significant development in the aftermath of the deadly 2019 Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas, the gunman responsible for killing 23 people has accepted a plea deal, which includes life without parole.
Prosecutors have announced that they will no longer seek the death penalty against 26-year-old Patrick Crusius, who was behind the massacre, the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.
Crusius, who opened fire at the Walmart during the busy back-to-school shopping season on August 3, 2019, will plead guilty to state charges, El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya confirmed.
In exchange, he will serve a sentence of life without the possibility of parole and will not be able to appeal his conviction.
This deal follows Crusius’ guilty plea to federal hate crime charges in 2023, for which he was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences. The horrific attack injured 26 people, with one victim dying months later from their injuries.
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Before the shooting, Crusius had written a manifesto filled with racist rhetoric targeting Latino immigrants, referring to their presence in the U.S. as an “invasion.” He traveled over 10 hours to El Paso from his home near Dallas to carry out the attack.
Montoya explained that the decision to drop the death penalty was made after speaking with victims’ families.
A “strong consensus” emerged among the families, who wanted the case to be concluded quickly, even if it meant not pursuing the death penalty.
Montoya emphasized that this decision did not reflect his personal stance on the matter but was instead made in consideration of the victims’ wishes.
Crusius is scheduled to formally plead guilty on April 21. Montoya expressed his hope that this plea would bring closure to the community, saying, “No one in this community will ever have to hear the perpetrator’s name ever again. No more hearings. No more appeals. He will die in prison.”
