Patrick Crusius has been charged with hate crimes resulting in death, hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, use of a firearm to commit murder and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the indictment unsealed Thursday. The charges relate to the 22 people who were killed as well as 23 other victims who survived the August 3 massacre — one of the nation's deadliest shootings and the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern US history. CNN has reached out to Crusius' attorneys for comment.Crusius is accused of killing and harming the victims "because of the actual and perceived national origin of any person," the indictment states.US Attorney John F. Bash told reporters the indictment was a "significant step" toward seeking swift and certain justice for the victims and said it was "tremendously important" to citizens of the United States and Mexico. "This attack deeply scarred this community," Bash said.The alleged shooter is expected to make his first appearance in federal court on February 12. Federal prosecutors said he could face death penalty on each of the charges linked to the people who were killed and up to life in prison for the charges involving the surviving victims.
El Paso attack compared to 'violence wrought' by Klan, DOJ says
Shortly after the shooting, federal authorities said they were treating the case as domestic terrorism but have not filed any charges against the alleged shooter until now. Since a person can't be charged with domestic terrorism, law enforcement officials such as the FBI have to find related crimes such as murder, illegal weapons possession and hate crimes in order to arrest and charge suspects. Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, said Thursday the alleged shooter tried to terrorize an entire community and the attack clearly met the federal definition of domestic terrorism."This hate crime may be considered an act of domestic terrorism, as have other hate crimes throughout our history, like the violence wrought by white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan," Dreiband told reporters. After announcing the charges, Bash noted the DOJ's first mission was to fight the Klan and now the agency is facing a "resurgent threat of violence motivated by race, national origin and other categories."
Suspect pleaded not guilty to capital murder in Texas
Crusius has already pleaded not guilty to a state capital murder charge in the August 3 massacre — one of the nation's deadliest shootings and the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern US history. He has been in custody at the El Paso County Detention Facility since his arrest in August and is awaiting trial on the state capital murder charge. Federal prosecutors said they will be trying their case in parallel to the state case.El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza has said he intends to seek the death penalty. Capital murder is the most serious charge in Texas and prosecutors can use it when a defendant is accused of killing multiple victims."We support the indictment by the U.S. Attorney's Office as one more way of holding the shooter accountable," Esparza said in a statement. "The District Attorney's Office will continue to work hard to ensure that justice is done and that the shooter is held accountable by our community."Authorities say the suspect drove 11 hours from his hometown of Allen, Texas, outside Dallas, to El Paso with the sole intent of killing immigrants and Mexicans in the West Texas border city.
About 20 minuRead More – Source
Patrick Crusius has been charged with hate crimes resulting in death, hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, use of a firearm to commit murder and in relation to a crime of violence, and use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, according to the indictment unsealed Thursday. The charges relate to the 22 people who were killed as well as 23 other victims who survived the August 3 massacre — one of the nation's deadliest shootings and the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern US history. CNN has reached out to Crusius' attorneys for comment.Crusius is accused of killing and harming the victims "because of the actual and perceived national origin of any person," the indictment states.US Attorney John F. Bash told reporters the indictment was a "significant step" toward seeking swift and certain justice for the victims and said it was "tremendously important" to citizens of the United States and Mexico. "This attack deeply scarred this community," Bash said.The alleged shooter is expected to make his first appearance in federal court on February 12. Federal prosecutors said he could face death penalty on each of the charges linked to the people who were killed and up to life in prison for the charges involving the surviving victims.
El Paso attack compared to 'violence wrought' by Klan, DOJ says
Shortly after the shooting, federal authorities said they were treating the case as domestic terrorism but have not filed any charges against the alleged shooter until now. Since a person can't be charged with domestic terrorism, law enforcement officials such as the FBI have to find related crimes such as murder, illegal weapons possession and hate crimes in order to arrest and charge suspects. Eric Dreiband, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, said Thursday the alleged shooter tried to terrorize an entire community and the attack clearly met the federal definition of domestic terrorism."This hate crime may be considered an act of domestic terrorism, as have other hate crimes throughout our history, like the violence wrought by white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan," Dreiband told reporters. After announcing the charges, Bash noted the DOJ's first mission was to fight the Klan and now the agency is facing a "resurgent threat of violence motivated by race, national origin and other categories."
Suspect pleaded not guilty to capital murder in Texas
Crusius has already pleaded not guilty to a state capital murder charge in the August 3 massacre — one of the nation's deadliest shootings and the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern US history. He has been in custody at the El Paso County Detention Facility since his arrest in August and is awaiting trial on the state capital murder charge. Federal prosecutors said they will be trying their case in parallel to the state case.El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza has said he intends to seek the death penalty. Capital murder is the most serious charge in Texas and prosecutors can use it when a defendant is accused of killing multiple victims."We support the indictment by the U.S. Attorney's Office as one more way of holding the shooter accountable," Esparza said in a statement. "The District Attorney's Office will continue to work hard to ensure that justice is done and that the shooter is held accountable by our community."Authorities say the suspect drove 11 hours from his hometown of Allen, Texas, outside Dallas, to El Paso with the sole intent of killing immigrants and Mexicans in the West Texas border city.About 20 minuRead More – Source
