Patrick Crusius, the perpetrator of one of America’s deadliest mass shootings at an El Paso Walmart, has pleaded guilty to capital murder charges and will spend the rest of his life behind bars without possibility of parole.
At a Glance
- Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty to murdering 23 people and wounding 22 others in an anti-Hispanic attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019
- He received life in prison without parole for capital murder and life sentences for 22 counts of aggravated assault
- The attack was the sixth-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history and the deadliest anti-Hispanic violence in modern American history
- Crusius drove nearly 700 miles from Allen, Texas to El Paso specifically to target Hispanics
- He had posted a racist manifesto online before the attack, claiming to stop what he called an “invasion” of Hispanics
Deadliest U.S. Mass Shooter to Face Trial
Patrick Crusius has accepted responsibility for the August 3, 2019 massacre that claimed 23 lives and injured 22 others at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas. The 24-year-old was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole for capital murder, plus concurrent life sentences for each of the 22 aggravated assault charges. District Attorney James Montoya made the decision not to pursue the death penalty in the case, leading to the guilty plea that now brings a measure of closure to victims’ families.
⚠️ WARNING: This post discusses a mass shooting, hate crime, and includes details about victims.
Patrick Crusius, 26, the gunman responsible for the racist massacre at an El Paso, Texas Walmart in 2019, is expected to plead guilty to state capital murder charges on Monday, April… pic.twitter.com/9K1b3l9qsJ
— True Crime Updates (@TrueCrimeUpdat) April 20, 2025
The El Paso attack stands as the sixth-deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history and has been classified as the deadliest anti-Hispanic violence in modern American history. Victims ranged in age from 15 to 90 years old and included both American and Mexican citizens. Crusius, from Allen, Texas, now bears the distinction of being the deadliest U.S. mass shooter to face trial and receive a sentence, as many other perpetrators of similar magnitude either died during their attacks or by suicide.
Premeditated Hate Crime
Court documents reveal that Crusius drove nearly 700 miles from his home in Allen, Texas, specifically to target the El Paso Walmart due to its proximity to the Mexican border and likelihood of Hispanic shoppers. Before carrying out the shooting, he posted online writings identifying himself as a white nationalist and expressing his intentions to kill Hispanics. His manifesto referenced what he called “the Hispanic invasion of Texas” and other white nationalist concepts like “great replacement” theory.
“On Aug. 3, 2019, you traveled nine hours to a city that would have welcomed you with open arms, but you brought hate,” Medrano said. “Now, as you begin to spend your life in prison, know your mission failed. You didn’t make this community weaker, you made it stronger.”, said District Court Judge Sam Medrano.
After the attack, Crusius surrendered to police and admitted that the shooting was intended to stop what he claimed was an “invasion” of Hispanics crossing the southern border. Mental health evaluations conducted during legal proceedings diagnosed him with schizoaffective disorder, though this did not prevent him from standing trial and facing consequences for his actions.
Multiple Sentences Ensure Justice
The state conviction follows Crusius’s earlier guilty plea to federal hate crimes and weapons charges, for which he received 90 consecutive life terms in federal prison. The dual convictions at both state and federal levels ensure that Crusius will never be released from prison. More than 100 family members attended the sentencing hearing, with over 40 victims planning to deliver impact statements to express the profound effect the shooting has had on their lives.
The El Paso community continues to heal from the attack, though recovery has been complicated by ongoing political rhetoric that sometimes echoes the shooter’s own motivations. District Court Judge Sam Medrano noted during sentencing that despite Crusius’s attempt to terrorize the community, El Paso has shown remarkable resilience and unity in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The conviction delivers a measure of justice to the victims of one of America’s most heinous hate crimes, though it cannot erase the loss and trauma inflicted upon the El Paso community. With both federal and state sentences ensuring Crusius will never see freedom again, attention now turns to supporting the survivors and preventing similar ideologically-motivated violence in the future.
