Beware The Deadly Power of Unreasoning Racist Hatred

"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." 

"Now, as you begin the rest of your life locked away, remember this: your mission failed."

"You did not divide this city, you strengthened it. You did not silence its voice, you made it louder. You did not instill fear, you inspired unity."

"El Paso rose, stronger and braver."

Judge Sam Medrano, Texas District Court 

El Paso Walmart mass shooter Patrick Crusius, 21, from Allen, Texas, accused of killing 22 and injuring 25 arraigned,in El Paso, Texas, U.S. October 10, 2019. Mark Lambie/Pool via REUTERS/

The racist attack in El Paso on August 3, 2019 represents one of the deadliest mass shootings in the history of the United States, which has experienced more than its share of such events and all too frequently. The gunman, responsible for the deaths of 23 people at an El Paso Walmart years previously, on Monday pleaded guilty to capital murder.

"Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty, and for no other reason?" asked Judge Medrano. "Yes, your honour", came the quiet response.

 

The killer, now 26 years of age, agreed that he had deliberately targeted Hispanics when he opened fire in a Walmart store crowded with shoppers for the weekend in the border city' shoppers who originated in both the United States and Mexico. Local prosecutors had taken the death penalty out of contention, to enable Crusius to plead guilty in his shockingly deadly death spree. Wearing a striped jumpsuit, shackles and a protective vest in court, Crusius is to be automatically sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole.

 

The reason the death penalty was set aside, relates to the compassion expressed by a number of relatives of the victims. They simply wished for the case to be concluded and out of their lives forever, according to County District Attorney James Montoya. One of Crusius' lawyers explained that his client had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, sometimes marked by hallucinations, delusions and mood swings. That he had suffered most of his life from debilitating mental illness.

 

El Paso Times

For his part, Crusius offered no explicit regret or apology for having ended the lives of 23 people and wounding 22 others. Those that died that fateful day ranged from a 15-year-old high school student, to elderly grandparents; immigrants, city bus driver, teacher, tradesmen, and Mexican nationals on a routine shopping trip over the border into the United States.  The hundred or so family members of the victims were given the opportunity to deliver victim impact statements; dozens of whom had expressed emotional statements at an earlier opportunity.

 

Crusius, never having expressed remorse, nor asked for forgiveness had been sentenced to 90 consecutive life terms at the federal level when he pleaded guilty to hate crimes and weapons charges. He was 21 years old, when he drove to El Paso from his home near Dallas, a 1,100 kilometre distance, after posting an online racist rant, warning of a Hispanic "invasion". Arriving at the Walmart he opened fire with an AK-style rifle both inside and outside the store.   

"[Crusius] became consumed by extreme ideologies found online."

"He brought violence and terror to a place of peace. He shattered lives and forever changed the landscape of El Paso..."

"We offer our deepest condolences."

"Patrick will leave prison only in a coffin on God's time."

Joe Spencer, a Crusius lawyer 

Memorial, El Paso Times