(21 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++SHOT CHANGES AT SOURCE++
POOL
El Paso, Texas – 21 April 2025
1. Mid shot of Patrick Crusius, center, and his attorneys listening to the judge in court UPSOUND (English) Judge: "The whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God."
CRUSIUS: "Yes, Your Honor."
2. Various shots of court proceedings UPSOUND (English) Judge: "You have been charged by indictment with the offense of capital murder."
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Judge Sam Medrano, State District Judge:
"Based on the evidence presented here today and on your pleas of guilty, I will accept your pleas and at this time find that the evidence does substantiate your guilt in cause number 2023 005832, I do find you guilty of 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon that has been enhanced to first degree felonies. And under each count I hereby sentence you to confinement in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for terms for life terms in causes number 2020 002631. I do find you guilty of capital murder, and I sentence you to confinement in the institutional division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for a term of life without the possibility of parole. Have you understood everything that’s happened? CRUSIUS: Yes, Your Honor."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Spencer, Attorney for Patrick Crusius:
"Today, Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him by the state of Texas. He has accepted responsibility for these horrific actions."
5. Wide shot of courtroom
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Joe Spencer, Attorney for Patrick Crusius:
"This plea, following his guilty plea in federal court and the resulting 90 consecutive life sentences, brings judicial finality. In federal court, Patrick Crusius publicly expressed remorse for the first time when confronted by one of his victims. Patrick will spend the rest of his natural life in prison. He will never again walk free. Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on God’s time. We hope that the resolution spares the victims of our community the further trauma of a protracted trial and decades-long appeals."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in Texas in 2019 pleaded guilty Monday to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the U.S.-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 the plea deal, which he made after local prosecutors agreed to take the death penalty off the table. He had already been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms on federal hate crime charges. His accepting of the plea agreement from Texas prosecutors ends six years of efforts to punish him by state and federal authorities.
Crusius drove more than 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) from Dallas to carry out the shooting on Aug. 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. You slaughtered fathers, mothers, sons and daughters,” State District Judge Sam Medrano said.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty and for no other reason?” Medrano asked him.
“Yes, your honor,” Crusius calmly responded.
Medrano sentenced Crusius to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
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