Walmart mass shooter confronted by victims and their families in court
Update: After victims and family members read their impact statements, they had the opportunity to speak to journalists on camera.
Several people said the past five years have been a challenging emotional time.
One family member added that the community's support has made it much easier to cope with the loss of their loved ones.
"I'll never forget how El Paso came together that day," Yvonne Loya Gonzalez said. "To be honest, I think that's what keeps me going, to know that humanity isn't all anger. It's resilience and love, that's what I felt."
Gonzalez said she hoped Crusius would get the death penalty, but said she found justice in forgiveness.
Her son, Ivan, acknowledged the strong support he and other family members received from the borderland community.
"I see an example of who not to be, to see the difference in our society, and to try as best as I can in my small part to bring society together," he said.
Update: Watch the victim impact statements live below. The court has asked that the victims' faces not be shown as they read their statements. Only their voices are being livestreamed.
Update (12:40 PM): The court has released a list of the victims expected to speak during today's hearing:
- Maria Luisa Pizaña (sister-in-law)
- Dafne Jazmin Marquez Marquez (granddaughter)
- Maria Guadalupe Soto (daughter)
- Soto (Written. Read by Maria Guadalupe)
- Daisy Carolina Fuentes (granddaughter)
- Monica Arciniega (surviving victim)
- Mariscal Olivia Rodriguez (surviving victim)
- Maria Magdalena Gonzalez (surviving victim)
- Liliana Munoz (surviving victim)
- Mario Perez Briones (surviving victim)
- Adriana Zandri (widow)
Update (10:50 AM): ABC-7 was in the courtroom as Patrick Crusius pleaded guilty.
A large group of victims, media, and people involved in the case gathered in the courtroom to witness the plea hearing.
Crusius spoke out loud publicly for the first time this morning. He responded to questions about the plea posed by Judge Sam Medrano.
Medrano, El Paso District Attorney James Montoya, and defense attorney Joe Spencer all addressed Crusius, condemning the hate that motivated his killings.
Montoya also read out the names of all the victims and survivors of the mass shooting.
The victim impact statements are starting this afternoon.
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Patrick Crusius, the Walmart shooter, is in court today to plea guilty to the state charges stemming from the August 3, 2019 mass shooting.
The shooting left 23 people dead and wounded 22 others.
In a plea deal reached in March, Crusius will plead guilty to one count of capital murder of multiple persons and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Crusius will be sentenced to life in prison.
Victim impact statements are scheduled to begin after 1 p.m.
