Hearing dates set in El Paso Walmart shooting case

A state judge has set three new hearing dates in the El Paso Walmart mass shooting case. Judge Sam Medrano announced the hearings for April 1, April 21, and April 22. These will address the death penalty case against Patrick Crucius, who is 26 years old. Crucius faces serious charges, including one count of capital murder and 22 counts of aggravated assault. The shooting happened on August 3, 2019, and targeted Hispanic individuals. It resulted in the deaths of 23 people and many injuries. Crucius admitted that he aimed at Hispanics, believing they were "invading" the U.S. The new hearings will address issues raised by defense attorneys. They claim prosecutors improperly listened to conversations between Crucius and his attorneys, mishandled evidence, and violated court orders. A gag order prevents public comments about the case from the District Attorney James Montoya and others involved. The trial, originally set for 2026, may now be delayed until 2027 due to ongoing disputes about evidence. Crucius has already been sentenced to 90 life sentences in federal court earlier in 2023 for hate crimes and related offenses. He is currently in state custody while the death penalty trial is pending.