El Paso County District Attorney Jaime Esparza has vowed to seek the death penalty against 21-year-old Patrick Wood Cruisus, the man responsible for killing 20 and leaving 26 injured during a shooting at an El Paso Walmart on Saturday.
The gunman walked into the Walmart with a ".223-high capacity" rifle, extra magazines, eye and ear protection.
The FBI, Border Patrol, El Paso Police and Fire and Texas' Department of Public Safety all responded to the scene.
The shooter was arrested on Saturday and booked into the El Paso County Jail early Sunday morning, the El Paso Times reported.
As of now, no bond has been established and Cruisus has been appointed a defense attorney.
The gunman posted a manifesto online, which El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen said “we have to attribute that manifesto directly to him.”
The Associated Press explained more about the manifesto:
The document posted online expressed concern that an influx of Hispanics into the United States will replace aging white voters, potentially turning Texas blue in elections and swinging the White House to the Democrats.
When asked whether the shooting was a hate crime, Allen said “it’s beginning to look more solidly like that is the case.”
Federal prosecutors say they’re treating the shooting as a domestic terrorism case.
The El Paso Police Department asked people to donate blood. Lines outside of donation centers quickly had a wait exceeding two hours.
Blood needed urgently. Multiple injured transported to various hospitals. Blood donation centers Vitalent Blood Services at 424 s Mesa Hills and 133 N Zaragoza
— EL PASO POLICE DEPT (@EPPOLICE) August 3, 2019
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