Patrick Crusius conducted one of the deadliest mass shootings of the past decade when he murdered almost two dozen people in an El Paso Walmart in 2019. Since then, he has faced the possibility of the death penalty as a result of his crimes. Last month, however, district attorney James Montoya announced that his office would no longer pursue the death penalty to give the victims’ families closure.

Cruisius’ shooting is said to reflect the uprising of white nationalism and anti-immigration sentiments in the United States. His actions, and those similar, can cause fear among marginalized communities.

The Manifesto

“This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas,” begins an unsigned manifesto, later discovered to be written by Patrick Crusius. The anti-immigration manifesto, titled “The Inconvenient Truth,” was posted online minutes before Crusius opened fire in an El Paso Walmart, on Aug. 3, 2019, killing 23 people.

“In general, I support the Christchurch shooter and his manifesto,” Crusius said, in reference to the mass murderer in New Zealand who killed 51 people in an attack against Muslims five months prior.

In the 2,300 word manifesto, Crusius expressed his anti-immigrant and antisemitic views, which included the political and economic reasons for the attack and the equipment he planned to use. By the time the document was posted online, Crusius had already completed his 10-hour drive from his home in Allen, Texas. 

The Shooting

According to his manifesto, Crusius arrived in El Paso, at a Walmart near Cielo Vista Mall armed with an AK-47 style rifle. Crusius began shooting in the parking lot. Before entering the store, Crusius opened fire on fundraiser participants of a girl’s soccer team. Two of the girls who witnessed Crusius’ rampage later testified at the initial sentencing in 2023, stating they are still fearful to be out in public.

Crusius then entered the store, firing near the entrance, checkout areas and aisles. His victims included high school students as young as 15, elderly citizens, public service workers like teachers and retired bus drivers, and Mexican nationals traveling from Juarez. 

“I’m the shooter,” Crusius said when apprehended, telling police he was targeting Mexicans.

The Sentencing 

On Februrary 2023, Crusius pleaded guilty to 90 federal charges including, hate crimes and firearm charges related to the shooting. Crusius originally plead not guilty but changed his plea when federal prosecutors decided not to pursue the death penalty. At the time, Crusius was also facing capital murder charges from the state of Texas, who were initially pursuing the death penalty in their case. 

During the sentencing, his family was not present, but the families of the victims were in attendance and expressed their frustrations and grief throughout the trial. 

The Defense 

Crusius is represented by defense attorney Joe Spencer who recognized Crusius’ mental health struggles. Before federal sentencing, Spencer said Crusius was suffering from a “broken brain,” alarmed by his own violent thoughts.

In an interview with El Paso Matters, Spencer stated that Crusius believed he was acting at the direction of President Donald J. Trump.

Spencer’s statement, however, contradicted Crusius’ manifesto which states, “My opinions on automation, immigration, and the rest predate Trump and his campaign for president.”

The Death Penalty

Initially, former District Attorney Yvonne Rosales and her office were pursuing the death penalty in Crusius’ case. However, Rosales resigned in 2022 due to allegations of misconduct within the office.

According to the Texas Tribune, during Rosales’ term, local judges were forced to throw out hundreds of criminal cases due to negligence. Among these cases was that of a murder defendant, for which Rosales’s office pushed a death sentence because they were unprepared for trial.

District Attorney James Montoya stated that the state will no longer be pursuing the death penalty. The decision was announced in a press release on March 25. 

“This is about allowing the families of the 23 victims who lost their lives on that horrific day–and the 22 wounded–to finally have resolution in our court system. Continual delays due to the handling of this case before I arrived in office have left them in limbo,” Montoya said. “Now, 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.”

Having taken office on Jan. 1, Montoya has since met with the families of every victim, most of whom would like to see the case finally be resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible.

On April 21, Crusius was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for capital murder, and life in prison for each of 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. During the hearing, Montoya aimed to focus on those affected by the shooting, as he read the names of the 23 victims who were slain, and the 22 who were wounded.

Montoya also criticized his predecessor, Rosales, calling her conduct “gross and abominable.”

Following the hearing, victims and family members shared impact statements, to which Crusius listened with little to no reaction. Victim statements continued in the courtroom on April 22, where Cruisius received a hug from Adriana Zandri, whose husband was murdered by Crusius.

Shortly after, Crusius began his travel to the state prison system to serve his sentence.

Leah Austin is staff reporter at The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]