2019 El Paso shooting
On August 3, 2019, a mass shooting occurred at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, United States. The gunman, 21-year-old Patrick Wood Crusius, killed 23 people[n 1] and injured 22 others.[14][15] The Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and a hate crime.[16][17] The shooting has been described as the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.[18][19]
2019 El Paso shooting
7101 Gateway West Blvd.
El Paso, Texas, U.S.
23[4]
22[5]
Patrick Wood Crusius
Federal:
Pleaded guilty
Federal convictions:
- Hate crime resulting in death (23 counts)
- Use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence (23 counts)
- Hate crimes involving an attempt to kill (22 counts)
- Use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence (22 counts)[10]
State charges:
Capital murder (23 counts)
Federal:
90 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole
Crusius surrendered and was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with the shooting. He posted a manifesto with white nationalist and anti-immigrant themes on the imageboard 8chan shortly before the attack.[20] The manifesto cites the Christchurch mosque shootings earlier that year, and the far-right conspiracy theory known as the Great Replacement, as inspiration for the attack. On February 8, 2023, following an announcement that the Department of Justice would not seek the death penalty, Crusius pleaded guilty to 90 federal murder and hate crime charges.[21][22] On July 7, 2023, Crusius was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences, but he is currently pending trial for state charges that would still potentially result in the death penalty under Texas state jurisdiction if found guilty.[23][24]
Shooting[edit]
The shooting occurred at a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall on the east side of El Paso. Crusius walked into the store carrying what is believed to be a WASR-10 rifle,[25] a semi-automatic civilian version of the AKM, and opened fire at 10:39 a.m.[26]
The store manager witnessed Crusius firing in the parking lot prior to entering the crowded store. He issued a "Code Brown", designating an active shooter, to his employees, who began helping customers evacuate or hide.[27][28] Many customers and employees fled to other stores in the adjacent mall or hid under tables[29] or in shipping containers located behind the building.[30]
First responders began to arrive within six minutes of the initial 9-1-1 call.[11] The El Paso Police Department, Texas Rangers, and paramedics responded to the scene along with the FBI and the ATF.[17][31]
After the shooting, Crusius drove to the intersection of Sunmount and Viscount. Arriving there, he stopped at the left turn lane, came out of the car with his hands up and identified himself as the shooter to Texas Rangers[32] and an El Paso motorcycle officer.[33] He was then arrested and transported to police headquarters.
In culture[edit]
The El Paso shooting inspired the extensive book La frontera salvaje. 200 años de fanatismo anglosajón en América latina (2021) by Jorge Majfud.[171][172]
