Michael Hernandez
August 09, 2019•Update: August 10, 2019
WASHINGTON
The suspect who opened fire in an El Paso, Texas Walmart store last weekend told police he intentionally targeted "Mexicans," according to an affidavit made public Friday.
The court document says Patrick Crusius, 21, admitted to carrying out the rampage that left 22 people dead and injured two dozen more victims, many of whom bore Latino surnames. In all, eight of the dead in the Texas border town were Mexican nationals.
Police detained Crusius after he exited his vehicle that was stopped at a nearby intersection, according to the affidavit written by Detective Adrian Garcia.
"I'm the shooter," Crusius told the arresting officers as he got out of the car with his hands in the air. While in custody Cruisus waived his rights and agreed to speak about the tragedy, saying he drove to the Walmart from Allen, Texas, some 650 miles (1,000 kilometers) away.
After the more than 10-hour drive, Crusius entered the store with an AK-47 assault rifle and multiple magazine clips with the intent to kill "Mexicans," he said.
Crusius has been charged with capital murder.
Investigators believe Crusius is the author of a racist screed posted on the 8chan anonymous message board website in the minutes leading up to the tragedy.
In it, the author rails against an alleged "Hispanic invasion of Texas,” and assailed "race mixing" while pledging an imminent attack.
“I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion,” it said. "This is just the beginning of the fight for America and Europe. I am honored to head the fight to reclaim my country from destruction."
