EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — As El Paso wakes up Sunday morning, a new reality will begin to set in. Twenty neighbors are dead. Another 26 have been injured following the deadly shooting at the Cielo Vista Walmart that began around 10:30 a.m. Saturday morning.
El Paso Police have not officially released the name of the suspect, but as KTSM has reported since Saturday afternoon, he is being identified by other sources as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius of Allen, Texas. According to records, he just turned 21 a week before the shooting, on July 27.
Early Sunday morning, El Paso jail records reflected a single Capital Murder charge for Patrick Crusius. He is being held without bond. Enhanced charges are possible and likely, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Emerson Bowie.
According to affiliate KXAS in Dallas, Crusius was a 2017 graduate of Plano Senior High and was enrolled in Collin College beginning in 2017 through Spring 2019.
The college released a statement Saturday, saying they are cooperating fully with federal investigators. “Collin College is prepared to cooperate fully with state and federal authorities in their investigation of this senseless tragedy. We join the governor and all Texans in expressing our heartfelt concern for the victims of the shooting and their loved ones.”
EPPD Chief Greg Allen confirmed that the suspect left behind what is believed to be a manifesto in which he allegedly cites “the Hispanic invasion of Texas” as his reasoning behind Saturday’s mass shooting. While Allen confirmed the existence and knowledge of the manifesto, he also cautioned that investigators are working all avenues to ensure their investigation is accurate. They have been unable to independently verify the manifesto was written by Crusius.
El Paso Police have scheduled their next press conference for 10 a.m. Sunday morning where additional information is expected to be released.