Global Courant
The El Paso Walmart gunman has been formally sentenced to 90 life sentences for the 2019 racist massacre that killed 23 people and injured nearly two dozen others, the El Paso ABC affiliate said KVIA.
Judge David Guaderrama delivered the verdict on Friday after hearing emotional statements from victims and victims’ relatives for two days.
The shooter, 24-year-old Patrick Crusius, pleaded guilty in February to dozens of federal hate crimes and gun charges.
El Paso Walmart suspect Patrick Crusius pleads not guilty at his indictment in El Paso, Texas, October 10, 2019.
Briana Sanchez/AP
Crusius allegedly told investigators after his arrest that he planned to kill as many Mexicans as possible after driving from his home in Allen, Texas, about 400 miles east of El Paso, officials said.
Twenty-two victims of the shooting died within days of the attack, while a 23rd person died eight months later. The attack also left 22 injured.
In a statement on behalf of Crusius prior to sentencing, attorney Joe Spencer claimed his client suffered from a serious mental illness called schizoaffective disorder that led him to commit the heinous act, KVIA reported.
Dozens of victims and family members were in El Paso federal court for the sentencing hearing, which began Wednesday.
Among those who addressed the court were relatives of Jordan Anchondro and Andre Anchondo, who were killed protecting their 2-month-old son during the attack.
“He wanted to hurt people because he said Hispanics were taking over. I want him to know that his efforts were in vain,” Tito Anchondro, Andre Anchondro’s brother, said on Wednesday. according to The Associated Press. “Yes, we’ve lost a lot of people… The ones that are left, we’re still going.”
Dean Reckard’s mother, Margie Reckard, was among those killed. He and his wife traveled to El Paso from Omaha, Nebraska, to “stand up against hate,” his wife, Hilda Reckard, said, according to the AP.
When Dean Reckard took the stand on Thursday, he confronted Crusius by saying, “You’re young and stupid. You made a bad choice. You’re beyond pathetic,” according to Dean Reckard. KVIA.
When Dean Reckard asked, “Do you regret doing it?” Crusius reportedly nodded “yes,” according to KVIA.
A makeshift memorial to the victims of the shooting that killed a total of 22 people at the Cielo Vista Mall WalMart (background) in El Paso, Texas, August 6, 2019.
Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images
Dee Margo, who was the mayor of El Paso when the mass shooting took place, was also in court.
“The killer showed little emotion the entire time. He didn’t look at the victims or their families,” Margo told reporters outside the courthouse on Wednesday.
Crusius had initially pleaded not guilty to the federal charges, but requested a rescheduling hearing after federal prosecutors agreed not to seek the death penalty in their case.
He pleaded guilty to 90 federal charges, including 23 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, 22 counts of hate crimes causing bodily harm, 23 counts of using a firearm in a federal violent crime resulting in death, and 22 counts of assault the use of a firearm in a federal crime of violence.
People gather at a makeshift memorial honoring victims outside Walmart, August 15, 2019, in El Paso, Texas.
Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images
Following the conclusion of the sentencing hearing, Crusius will face a restitution hearing on September 25, KVIA reported.
Crusius also faces capital murder charges in state court. He has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
El Paso District Attorney Bill Hicks told reporters Thursday he still plans to seek the death penalty in that case, which could go to trial as early as next year. A jury would ultimately decide whether Crusius should receive the death penalty, Hicks said.
“I am committed to seeking justice for the people of this community,” Hicks said.
