Gunman who killed 23 in racist attack at Walmart store avoids death sentence

Patrick Crusius during his sentencing hearing in El Paso, Texas (Ruben R Ramirez/Pool Photo via AP)

The gunman who killed 23 people when he targeted Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart store in Texas in 2019 has pleaded guilty to capital murder and was scolded by a judge over the racist attack in El Paso near the US-Mexico border.

Patrick Crusius, a white 26-year-old community college dropout, wore a striped jumpsuit, shackles and a protective vest in the El Paso courtroom, as many dozens of victims’ relatives waited in the gallery to address him face to face.