90 life sentences for attack that killed 23 in Texas

EPAFlowers after the massacre at a supermarket in El Paso

NOS Nieuws•morgen, 01:35

In the US, the perpetrator of a massacre in a Texas supermarket has been sentenced to 90 life terms. The attack in the summer of 2019 killed 23 people and injured 22 others.

The 24-year-old perpetrator Patrick Crusius had a racist motive. He pleaded guilty and admitted that he had driven from his home, over 1,000 miles away, to El Paso to kill people of Mexican background.

Invasion

The gunman opened fire near and in a Walmart branch. He wore hearing protection and goggles and fired around with an assault rifle. His youngest victim was a 3-year-old child. Crusius was arrested the same day.

Just before the murders, the twenty-something put a manifesto online in which he talked about his hatred of Latinos. He warned of an “invasion” of Latin Americans in Texas. He also referred to a conspiracy theory in which it is said that the elite want to eventually replace the white population of Europe with people from Africa and the Middle East.

Death penalty

The sentencing follows two days of emotional testimony from survivors and family members. They called the perpetrator monster, murderer and parasite, among other things. The gunman showed little emotion during the statements, but did nod when a victim’s son asked him if he regretted his actions.

Crusius has now been convicted in a federal court. He is also being prosecuted by the Texas judiciary. In that case, the prosecutor wants to bet on the death penalty.

These are images from during and just after the attack:

‘I heard a lot of shots in a row’

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