The trial of 24 year-old gunman, Patrick Crusius who went on a shooting spree in 2019 has finally been concluded, with an obvious satisfactory verdict to most of those affected. Recall that Patrick was involved in a mass shooting that led to the death of about twenty three (23) persons in what is termed a “racist attack” targeted at Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in the Texas border city.
In addition to the deaths, many others sustained different degrees of injuries and wounds in the process, as they attempted fleeing or hiding from the shooting rampage, while several others were obviously traumatized.
During his sentencing on Friday, July 7, 2023, Patrick Crusius was handed a ninety (90) years concurrent jail term, while reports has it that he is likely to face more punishment for his despicable act, including facing a possible death penalty. He had earlier in the year, some time in February, pleaded guilty to about 50 count charges brought against him, bordering on hate crime.
Though it was revealed by the Guardian UK, that he only pleaded guilty to the charges when the death penalty was removed in the picture by the prosecutors. But according to same source, Texas prosecutors have vowed to include the possibility of death penalty when Patrick will be facing trial in state court in a yet to be fixed date.
The shooting incident involving the 24 year-old has been rated one of the worst and largest hate crimes in the history of the U.S government. Emerging facts about the ugly incident indicates that the culprit drove over seven hundred (700) miles from his home located in Dallas, to the scene of the crime, which clearly was targeted at Hispanic people. Another information revealed that the shooting incident happened after a social media post, clearly racism induced type, was made by Patrick moments before the shooting, which “warned of a Hispanic “invasion” of Texas.
Meanwhile, it was such an emotional and touching ending to the sentencing by the U.S district judge, David Guaderrama in El Paso, who allowed a two day turn by turn statements from family members of the victims of the shooting, face to face with the man who is the brain behind their grief, pains and tears. They hauled raw words from their hearts directly at Patrick, whom most of the times reportedly looked not really touched by the pains, tears and grief he caused for them.
It was equally reported that for quite some time now, that he (Patrick Crusius) has been consumed by the unending debate and conversation surrounding the U.S immigration policies, and has repeatedly made posts in solidarity with former U.S President, Donald Trump’s border wall projects. In other words, it is obvious the young man has naturally had this bottled up hatred against certain group of people, and the heartless shooting which has now earned him a long jail term was just one of the consequences of such mindset.
There’s no doubt to the fact that many people would be wondering what the world is really turning into, that a fellow human will be filled with such volume of hatred and bitterness against his fellow humans, for no justifiable reasons. Indeed it’s sad and heartbreaking!
