Photo: Combo-Photos of EFE and Getty Images / Impremedia
The sentencing hearing for Patrick Crusius, the man who killed 23 people injured 22 others, most of whom were Hispanic, in the massacre that occurred at Cielo Vista Walmart, in El PasoTexas, will begin on June 30, a federal judge announced Wednesday.
On August 3, 2019, Crusius, then 21 years old, attacked the public with a WASR-10 semi-automatic rifle at a Walmart store in El Paso, causing the largest massacre in the United States directed against Latinos.
Federal judge David Guaderrama, in charge of the case, warned that the hearing to be held at Albert Armendáriz Sr. Federal Court in El Paso, will last several days, according to KDBC.
The hearing is expected to include testimony about the impact the shooting had on its surviving victims and their families, and a statement from the prosecution on the case.
In February, Crusius pleaded guilty to 23 counts of hate crime, 23 counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a violent crime, 22 counts of attempted murder and 22 counts of use of a firearm. in that attempt.
In exchange for his admission of charges and the waiver of his right to appeal, the government did not seek the death penalty, and Crusius faces the possibility of 90 consecutive life prison sentences.
Crusius told investigators that he had chosen that Walmart store for his attack because it is close to the US border with Mexico and because it is frequented by Hispanic customersaccording to trial documentation.
Crusius first visited the store unarmed, returning equipped with ear protectors, plastic eye protectors, and a semi-automatic rifle from which he fired indiscriminately.
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– Hate-motivated massacres reached the highest number recorded in the US in 2019.