A state judge set three hearings in the El Paso Walmart mass shooting case after months of delays, court records show.
Judge Sam Medrano of the 409th District Court issued three orders setting hearing dates for April 1, April 21 and April 22, court records show.
Joe Spencer, Patrick Crusius’s attorney, listens to assistant District Attorney John Briggs during the second day of a court hearing regarding misconduct allegations in the Walmart shooting case on Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at the Enrique Moreno County Courthouse in El Paso, Texas.
The new hearings are a continuation of a set of hearings held in October and November in the death penalty case against Patrick Crucius, 26. The gunman is facing one count of capital murder of multiple persons and 22 counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The gunman is charged in the racially-motivated Aug. 3, 2019, mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of 23 people and the injury of dozens of other. The gunman confessed to law enforcement that he was targeting Hispanics, who he claimed were invading the U.S., according to federal court testimony.
The case is still being tried as a death penalty case. New El Paso District Attorney James Montoya has not officially announced if he will continue seeking the death penalty.
More: Major hearing delayed again in death penalty case against El Paso Walmart shooter
A gag order issued by Medrano prevents Montoya, state prosecutors and the gunman’s defense attorneys from publicly discussing the case.
The hearings will focus on motions filed by defense attorneys claiming prosecutorial misconduct, including prosecutors illegally listening to jailhouse conversations between the gunman and his attorneys, the district attorney’s office mishandling evidence, and several court orders defense attorneys argue state prosecutors violated.
James Montoya gives a speech before being sworn in as the new District Attorney of El Paso, Texas on January 6, 2025.
The hearings were scheduled to continue in December and January, but were postponed as arguments continued over several court orders.
The case was originally scheduled to go to trial in 2026, but it could be delayed into 2027 as defense attorneys and prosecutors continue to fight over evidence and court orders.
Gunman already sentenced to life in federal court
The gunman pleaded guilty Feb. 9, 2023, in federal court to 23 counts of hate crimes resulting in death, 23 counts of use of a firearm to commit murder during and in relation to a crime of violence, 22 counts of hate crimes involving an attempt to kill, and 22 counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.
More: El Paso Walmart mass shooter’s attorney file motion claiming ‘outrageous conduct’ by DA
He was sentenced July 7, 2023 to 90 consecutive life sentences in federal court for the mass shooting. He was ordered to serve his federal prison sentence at ADX Florence Supermax federal prison near Florence, Colorado. He remains in state custody as his state death penalty trial remains pending.
Aaron Martinez covers the criminal justice system for the El Paso Times. He may be reached at [email protected] or on X/Twitter @AMartinezEPT.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Judge schedules 3 key hearings in El Paso Walmart mass shooting case
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