El Paso Walmart Shooter to Plead Guilty to 23 Murders in 2019 Hate Crime Attack

Patrick Crusius, who killed 23 in a 2019 racist mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, is set to plead guilty to capital murder and avoid the death penalty.

 

TEXAS – Patrick Crusius, the gunman behind the deadly 2019 El Paso Walmart shooting that left 23 people dead, is expected to plead guilty to capital murder in a Texas court on Monday.

 

Now 26, Crusius will likely receive a life sentence without the possibility of parole, closing a long-running case that shocked the nation and exposed the deadly consequences of racist extremism.

 

The decision follows a plea deal offered by El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya, who confirmed last month that the state would not pursue the death penalty, citing the preferences of many victims’ families for closure over prolonged legal proceedings.

 

Crusius has already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms in federal court after pleading guilty in 2023 to hate crime and weapons charges. The Biden administration also removed the federal death penalty as an option.

 

“I just wanted it to be over,” said Stephanie Melendez, whose father David Johnson died shielding his family. “It’s like reliving the trauma over and over again.”

 

The 2019 Massacre

On August 3, 2019, Crusius drove over 10 hours from his home near Dallas to El Paso, targeting Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart popular with both Americans and Mexican nationals.

 

Wearing ear protection and carrying an AK-style rifle, Crusius began his rampage in the parking lot before entering the store, where he continued firing indiscriminately. Victims ranged from a 15-year-old athlete to elderly grandparents. Among them were Jordan and Andre Anchondo, who were killed protecting their infant son.

 

Crusius later confessed to police that he was intentionally targeting Mexicans, and just before the attack, posted an online manifesto referencing the "Hispanic invasion of Texas." He also posted content praising strict immigration policies and echoed far-right talking points on border control.

 

His defense attorney described him as mentally ill, citing a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.