Walmart shooter nodded ‘yes’ when asked if he regrets the massacre
Update 3:30 p.m.: ABC-7 crews watched as Dean Reckard, the son of a Walmart shooting victim, asked Crusius if he regrets carrying out the massacre. Crusius was seen nodding "yes" in response.
Update 3:00 p.m.: The El Paso District Attorney will make a statement following the close of the second day of the federal sentencing hearing.
D.A. Bill Hicks is the lead prosecutor of the state's case against Crusius. He has previously stated that he plans to pursue the death penalty if Crusius is found guilty of state charges.
That statement is expected at the courthouse downtown at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.
Update 2:50 p.m.: Court adjourned today at 2:30 p.m. This was the final day of impact statements.
Officials tell ABC-7 crews inside the courtroom that Crusius himself will not address the judge. Instead, his attorney Joe Spencer will make the statement on Crusius' behalf.
The formal sentencing is tomorrow at 10:00 a.m.
Update 2:41 p.m.: Francisco Javier Rodriguez, the father of Javier Amir Rodriguez, the youngest victim of the shooting, spoke directly to Crusius during his statement.
“Look at me you coward, look at my son’s picture," he exclaimed. "Because of you he never graduated from high school. I carry my son’s ashes with me everywhere I go.”
“You branded your family like the coward you are," Rodriguez went on to say. "They are marked for life. When everyone hears your name, all they’ll see is the coward that you are. All they’re gonna see is the killer. The coward.”
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Court officials tell ABC-7 crews inside the courtroom that Thursday will be the final day for victim impact statements in the Walmart shooter's federal sentencing hearing. That means victims and their families have one last chance to speak directly to the shooter, Patrick Crusius.
During the second day of impact statements, Chris Vega Morales, whose aunt died in the shooting and whose mother and grandmother were shot and survived, spoke directly to Crusius.
"I hate the media coverage this idiot got, this is why he did this," Morales expressed in court. "You did this because you knew your life wasn't going anywhere and zero people love you."
Morales' sister spoke next, telling Crusius that she has not forgiven him.
“I can sit here and say I forgive you, but I don’t. Your don’t deserve peace and you don’t deserve forgiveness," she stated.
She also addressed Crusius' manifesto, which outlined his reasons for carrying out the shooting. The manifesto claimed Crusius wanted to get retribution against Hispanic people in Texas.
“For four years you’ve been stuck in El Paso, and now you’re sitting in a courtroom full of Hispanics. Joke's on you, the bad guy never wins.”
The son of shooting victim Margie Reckard, Dean Reckard, also addressed the issue of the manifesto.
“Does my mom look Mexican to you? She’s not. She’s 100% American.”
Reckard went on to tell Crusius that he believes he is pathetic.
“You’re young and you’re stupid, you made a bad choice, you’re beyond pathetic, look at me man, you’re pathetic.”
Another relative of Reckard, Hilda, then took the stand and gave an incredibly personal and at times hopeful statement.
“You’ll never know what it’s like to fall in love. You’ll never know what it’s like to hold your child and grandbabies… what a miracle. While you rot in a cell, I’ll be holding my grandbabies.”
Because this is a federal case, cameras are not allowed inside. That means ABC-7 has crews inside, gathering new information and reporting on the victim impact statements.
Crusius is also expected to address the judge directly when the impact statements have concluded.
Crusius pleaded guilty to federal charges earlier this year. He was charged with murdering 23 people and injuring 22 others at the Cielo Vista Walmart on August 3, 2019.
A separate state trial will begin after the conclusion of the federal case. State prosecutors say they are planning to pursue the death penalty if Crusius is found guilty. He has plead guilty to those state charges.
