U.S. News

El Paso Walmart Shooting Suspect Patrick Crusius Charged With Federal Hate Crime Charges

NEW CHARGES

Patrick Crusius, 21, previously pleaded not guilty to state capital murder charges in connection with the shooting deaths of 22 people at the Cielo Vista Walmart.

RTS2QIXC_rqkxsr
Mark Lambie/Reuters

The alleged gunman in the mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart last year that left 22 people dead has been charged with federal hate crimes, HuffPost reported Thursday. Patrick Crusius, 21, was indicted on 90 counts by a federal grand jury—including “hate crime resulting in death” and “use of a firearm to commit murder.” He had previously pleaded not guilty to capital murder charges for the Aug. 3, 2019 shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart, which killed eight Mexican nationals.

Authorities say Crusius sought to murder Hispanic people inside the crowded store near the U.S.-Mexico border on a busy Saturday morning. He had allegedly posted a racist creed online shortly before he opened fire. Crusius has been held without bond since the shooting, after surrendering to police after the attack saying “I’m the shooter,” and admitting to targeting Mexicans, according to the arrest warrant.

Read it at HuffPost

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.