EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to state charges in the Aug. 3, 2019 massacre on Monday, April 21, and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The hearing began at 10 a.m. Monday morning at the El Paso County Courthouse.
Previously, the shooter pleaded guilty in 2023 to federal charges and was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms without possibility of parole.
The shooter killed 23 people on Aug. 3, 2019 and injured more than 20 others in a racially motivated attack at the Cielo Vista Walmart.
On Monday, the shooter was seen walking into the courtroom wearing a white-and-orange jumpsuit and a protective vest and was accompanied by his attorneys, Mark Stevens, Felix Valenzuela, and Joe Spencer.
Judge Sam Medrano addressed the courtroom, and the shooter was asked to stand and take an oath regarding the testimony he was going to present to the courtroom.
Medrano said the shooter has been charged with capital murder, with the punishment being life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The shooter was also charged with 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which are second-degree felonies. For this cause, the shooter faces two to 20 years in confinement in the Institutional Division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with a fine not to exceed $10,000.
Medrano asked the shooter if he understood that by entering his plea, he would be waiving his rights, including the right to have a jury trial, to which he agreed.
Medrano asked the shooter’s attorneys if they explained to the shooter about the pleas he would be submitting and if he was legally competent to submit the pleas, to which they said yes.
Medrano asked the shooter where he was born, to which the shooter replied that he was born in Dallas, Texas.
The shooter was asked regarding the capital murder charge and the 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon if he wished to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, to which the shooter replied, “Guilty.”
El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya then read out the plea agreements regarding the charges, and stated that in exchange for the shooter’s plea of guilt, the state of Texas will withdraw its intent to seek the death penalty and will seek a sentence of life with no parole.
Montoya also said that the 22 counts of aggravated assault are enhanced with a bias and prejudice findings, which bumps the offenses up from second-degree felonies to first-degree felonies, seeking 22 counts of life.
Medrano explained to the shooter that the two to 20 years in confinement has been enhanced up to a term of life. The shooter was asked if he understood what this meant, to which he replied, “Yes, your honor.”
Montoya then proceeded to summarize the evidence in the case and named the victims who were killed and injured in the massacre that took place nearly six years ago.
Medrano found the shooter guilty on all counts and was sentenced on each count to life without the possibility of parole.
The shooter did not show any sort of emotion during the sentencing. The shooter was asked if he understood the sentencing, to which he said yes.
Montoya then thanked the El Paso Police Department, among other agencies, and apologized to the victims, including Alexander Hoffman’s family, regarding how the case was handled in the previous years.
Spencer then gave a statement that included how the shooter “suffers from a severe debilitating mental disease, schizoaffective disorder” and how it made the shooter “exceptionally vulnerable to delusions based on racial misinformation.”
“He also explicitly stated that the attack was a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas, echoing the language that was used by political figures,” Spencer said.
With no expression on his face, Crusius looked over to Spencer as he was reading the statement at one point.
Medrano then addressed the shooter and started his statement with “On Aug. 3, 2019, you traveled nine hours to a city that would’ve welcomed you with open arms.”
Medrano continued his statement, which touched on how the shooter’s actions impacted the city and the community.
“Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: Your mission failed. You did not divide this city. You strengthened it. You did not silence its voice. You made it louder. You did not instill fear. You inspired unity,” Medrano stated as he faced the shooter.
The court was then dismissed until 1 p.m., which is when the victim impact statements are expected to begin.
Statements are expected to last until Wednesday, April 23, as more than 40 people have signed up to talk about the crime.
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