Mexicans Were His Target, El Paso Suspect Said: Police

Court filing says he told officers he wanted to kill Mexicans
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 9, 2019 4:29 PM CDT
Shootings Suspect Confessed Immediately, El Paso Police Say
This undated file image provided by the FBI shows Patrick Crusius, whom authorities have identified as the gunman who killed multiple people at an El Paso store Aug. 3.   (FBI via AP, File)

"I'm the shooter," Patrick Crusius said, his hands up, when he was arrested Saturday after the mass shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Police filed an affidavit Friday detailing the arrest. Crusius is charged with capital murder in the deaths of 22 people, the New York Times reports. He was trying to kill Mexicans, the filing says he told officers. Officials have said Crusius posted a screed online just before the shootings saying they were in "response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas." His lawyer, appointed by the court, did not immediately comment about the filing; a judge on Friday agreed to appoint a second attorney for Crusius.

Texas Rangers arrested Crusius, 21, after his vehicle stopped in an intersection near the Walmart. Crusius got out and put his hands up, the filing says. After waiving his right to have an attorney present, he told the Rangers he'd brought an AK-47-style rifle and multiple magazines into the store and opened fire. Authorities say he has been cooperative with investigators, per the Washington Post. He has not shown remorse, the police chief said. (More El Paso shooting stories.)

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