Patrick Crusius, the gunman who killed 23 people and injured dozens more in a racially motivated shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas, pleaded guilty Monday to capital murder in a state court and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The plea ends years of legal proceedings and brings a measure of finality to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history.
Crusius, 26, entered the plea at the El Paso County Courthouse while shackled, wearing a striped jumpsuit and a protective vest. The sentencing followed an agreement by prosecutors to remove the death penalty from consideration, a decision supported by many victims' families, according to El Paso County District Attorney James Montoya.
"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," said State District Judge Sam Medrano during sentencing. "Now as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed."
Crusius responded simply, "Yes, your honor," when asked whether he was pleading guilty "because you are guilty and for no other reason."
Alleged racist Walmart shooter Patrick Crusius, who murdered 23 people at an El Paso Walmart in 2019, says he believed he was acting on Trump's wishes.
"He thought he had to stop a Hispanic invasion of Texas because that's what his President was telling him." pic.twitter.com/SB8pghdi0H — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) April 1, 2025
The August 3, 2019 attack targeted Hispanic shoppers in a border city filled with weekend crowds from both the U.S. and Mexico. Crusius drove more than 700 miles from his home near Dallas to carry out the shooting, shortly after posting an online manifesto warning of a "Hispanic invasion." He later told authorities he intended to kill Mexicans.
Victims ranged from a 15-year-old high school student to elderly grandparents, and included immigrants, a retired bus driver, a teacher, and several Mexican nationals who had crossed the border for routine shopping trips. In addition to the capital murder charge, Crusius pleaded guilty to 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and received 22 additional life sentences.
The courtroom was under heightened security, with about 100 people from victims' families in attendance. Crusius did not apologize, but one of his defense attorneys, Joe Spencer, offered condolences and spoke about Crusius' mental health diagnosis.
"He latched onto hateful rhetoric, particularly the dangerous and false narratives surrounding immigration being repeated in political discourse," Spencer told the court. "We share this not as an excuse, but as part of the explanation for the inexplicable."
Crusius had previously pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and firearms charges in 2023, for which he was sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms. Monday's state sentencing closes the dual-track prosecution.
"Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on God's time," Spencer said. Victim impact statements were expected to continue through the afternoon, with dozens of families planning to address the court.
