(Austin) A white Texas gunman, who killed 23 people at a Walmart in 2019 after speaking out against Hispanic takeover of the government and economy, has agreed to pay more than $5 million (nearly 7.5 million) to victims of the racist attack, according to an order signed by a judge on Monday.
Patrick Crusius was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences last July after pleading guilty to federal hate crime charges. His action is considered one of the worst massacres in the country.
The 2019 attack was the deadliest of a dozen U.S. mass shootings linked to hate crimes since 2006, according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University.
Court records show his lawyers and the Justice Department reached an agreement on the restitution amount, which was later approved by U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama.
There is no indication that Mr. Crusius, 25, has any significant assets. He was 21 and a college dropout when police say he drove more than 700 miles from his home near Dallas to target Hispanics with an AK-style rifle indoors and outdoors of the shop. Moments before the attack began, Mr. Crusius posted a racist speech online warning of a Hispanic “invasion” of Texas.
Patrick Crusius once worked in a movie theater, a job his lawyers said he was forced to leave because he had violent thoughts.
Mr. Crusius pleaded guilty in February, after federal prosecutors withdrew the death penalty. But Texas prosecutors have said they will try to place Mr. Crusius on death row when he is tried in state court. A trial date has not yet been set.
Under the agreement between the shooter and the government, Crusius will pay US$5,557,005.55 ($7,476,145.20), according to court filings.
Joe Spencer, Crusius’ lawyer and Justice Department spokesman, did not immediately respond to messages Monday.
In January, the Justice Department proposed changes to how it manages federal prisoner escrow accounts in an effort to ensure victims receive compensation, including from some high-profile inmates with significant balances.
The move comes as the Justice Department faces increased scrutiny, following revelations that several high-profile inmates kept large sums of money in their prison accounts but only made minimal payments to their victims.