Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Walmart store avoids death sentence

Belfast Telegraph - 21/04
The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart store in Texas in 2019 has pleaded guilty to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the US-Mexico border.

Patrick Crusius, a white 26-year-old community college dropout, wore a striped jumpsuit, shackles and a protective vest in the El Paso courtroom, as many dozens of victims’ relatives waited in the gallery to address him face to face.

Crusius did not address the families while accepting his plea deal, which meant he would not face the death penalty.

He had already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms on federal hate crime charges.

Accepting the plea agreement from Texas prosecutors means an end to six years of efforts to punish Crusius by state and federal authorities.

He drove more than 700 miles from Dallas to carry out the shooting on August 3 2019.

“You came to inflict terror, to take innocent lives and to shatter a community that had done nothing but stand for kindness, unity and love,” state district Judge Sam Medrano said.

“You slaughtered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters.

“Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed.

A woman wipes tears from her eyes during the sentencing (Ruben R Ramirez/AP)

“You did not divide this city, you strengthened it; you did not silence its voice, you m...
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