Patrick Wood Crusius, the man accused of the Cielo Vista Walmart mass shooting in El Paso Aug. 3, 2019 was indicted Thursday morning by an El Paso County grand jury for the recent death of a 23rd victim.
The reindictment was added to reflect the death of 36-year-old Guillermo Garcia, a father and husband who was shot outside the Walmart while raising money for his daughter’s soccer team. Garcia died April 25, nearly nine months after he was placed under intensive care, receiving treatment for multiple gunshot wounds.
According to a press release by the District Attorney’s Office, the new indictment includes 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, with a hate crime enhancement for the other shooting victims.
The hate crime enhancement increases the aggravated assault punishment from second–degree felony to a first-degree felony, which as stated on the release, is possible for life or a term from 5 to 99 years in prison.
“The District Attorney’s Office will continue to work hard to ensure that justice is done and committed to assisting the victims through this judicial process,” said Thursday’s statement.
Crusius also faces charges in federal court, where prosecutors in February obtained a 90-count indictment against him. The charges include 22 counts of a hate crime resulting in death, 23 counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill and 45 counts of discharging a firearm in relation to hate crimes.
Crusius, 21, of Allen, is being accused of opening fire with an AK-47 rifle at El Paso’s Cielo Vista Walmart Aug.3, which resulted in the death of 23 victims and left more than two dozen people injured.
According to the federal court’s indictment, Crusius’ attack was an act of hate crime against Hispanics, after uploading a manifesto minutes before the shooting that gives reason to believe his intentions were to cause bodily injury to the victims because of their actual or perceived national origin.
Crusius is currently being held in downtown’s El Paso County Jail without bond as he awaits trial.
Anahy Diaz may be reached at prospecto[email protected]
