The Walmart Shooter Will Never Walk Free—Here’s Why That Matters for El Paso

August 3, 2019 is a day that many El Pasoans will remember because it was a day when 23 innocent people lost their lives to a horrific mass shooting at a local Walmart in El paso, TX.

It was a day where our community mourned the tragedy, but we came together as a community.

This year it will be 6 years since the tragic Walmart mass shooting and unfortunately the families of the victims are still waiting for justice to be served as the man responsible for the shooting, Patrick Crusius, is still sitting behind bars and has yet to be sentenced for this horrific crime.

In a major shift, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya has announced that his office will no longer pursue the death penalty

Many locals were shocked to read the headlines saying Cruisis would not be getting the death penalty. Instead, he will plead guilty to capital murder and serve life in prison without the possibility of parole—a decision that did not sit well with many locals, but it was a decision aimed at bringing long-overdue closure to victims’ families.

“Withdrawing the death penalty has nothing to do with my stance on capital punishment,” Montoya stated. “This is about allowing the families of the 23 victims to finally have resolution.”

The case, which has been delayed for years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership changes, and legal disputes, has left families stuck in an exhausting legal limbo. Montoya, the fourth district attorney to handle the case, personally met with every affected family and found that most wanted an end to the proceedings—fast.

According to a press release sent out by Montoya’s office, by removing the death penalty from the equation, there will be no appeals, no drawn-out hearings, and no more headlines about the shooter. Crusius will die behind bars, and El Paso can finally begin to heal.

The perpetrator is set to plead guilty on April 21, 2025, in the 409th District Court. Victim impact statements will follow, giving families one final chance to speak their truth.

This decision may not be what everyone wanted, but for many, it means something crucial: no more waiting for justice.