EL PASO, TexasKWTX and AP) – Lawyers for Patrick Crusius, man accused of fatally killing nearly two dozen people in a racist attack on a Walmart in El Paso in 2019, filed a new motion for retrial over the weekend, saying Crusius intends to plead guilty to all federal charges.
The new petition comes days after federal prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty for Crusius.
“Now, Defendant Patrick Wood Crusius, through his attorneys and through his attorneys, respectfully invites the court to schedule a reappointment hearing at a convenient time for the court; The defendant notifies the court of his intention to plead guilty to the indictment,” the petition reads.
Crusius, 24, is accused of attacking Mexicans during the Aug. 3 massacre, which left 23 people dead and dozens injured. The Dallas native is charged with federal hate crimes and gun violations, as well as capital murder, in state court. He had previously pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges.
Crusius turned himself in to police after the massacre, saying “I shot”, claiming he was targeting the Mexicans, according to the arrest warrant.
Prosecutors also said that shortly before the shooting, Crusius posted a screed online saying it was “in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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