Sun Metro station named after Walmart shooting victim, widow gives a heartfelt thank you

El Paso City Council unanimously passed a motion Tuesday to rename a Sun Metro bus station after a victim of the August 3 mass shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart.

The Sun Metro transfer station near the scene of the horrific mass shooting will be called the ‘Arturo Benavides Eastside Transit Center.’

The wife of Arturo, Patricia Benavides, was in attendance Tuesday and presented with a plaque.

“I’m pretty sure [Arturo] is pretty happy to see this,” she said while crying. “He was proud to work for you guys. He was a good man. He was a good worker.”

Patricia wiped away tears throughout the vote and presentation and embraced each representative and Mayor Dee Margo afterwards.

“Thank you very much for everything you’ve done,” Patricia told the mayor and representatives. “Thank you very much. You’ve helped tremendously.”

Arturo was a retired Sun Metro employee of 20 years and U.S. Army veteran.

“He was noted for his kindness,” Sun Metro Director Jay Banasiak said. “He worked well with all the passengers that he had driven during his time. He was always happy. He loved to talk.”

The motion was brought to council after District 3 Rep. Cassandra Hernandez’s office put together a petition to rename the center.

KVIA 2019