New trial judge named in El Paso Walmart shooter case

A new judge has been named to preside over the case of the man accused of killing 22 people at the Cielo Vista Walmart store.

409th State District Court Judge Sam Medrano was assigned to the capital murder case of Patrick Crusius, the El Paso Council of Judges indicated in a statement Monday.

His appointment comes after 346th State District Court Judge Angie Jurez Barill recused herself last week, saying she knew one of those killed.

The 21-year-old Crusius, of the Dallas-suburb of Allen, remains jailed without bond charged with capital murder of multiple persons. Prosecutors have said they’ll be seeking the death penalty.

Medrano has handled high-profile capital murder cases in the past, most notably the third trial of Daniel Villegas last year, which ended in Villegas’ acquittal in the fatal shootings of two El Paso men in 1993.