In a recent development, the white Texas gunman responsible for the 2019 Walmart massacre, where 23 lives were tragically lost, has agreed to compensate victims of the racially motivated attack with a sum exceeding $5 million.
This agreement, sanctioned by a judge on Monday, follows Patrick Crusius' sentencing to 90 consecutive life terms in July. Crusius had pleaded guilty to federal hate crime charges, marking one of the nation's most horrifying mass shootings.
The agreed-upon restitution amount resulted from negotiations between his legal team and the Justice Department, subsequently receiving approval from U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama.
It's important to note that Patrick Crusius, aged 25, does not appear to possess significant assets.
At the time of the attack, he was merely 21 and had abandoned his community college studies.
Crusius drove over 700 miles from his residence near Dallas to the Walmart, where he used an AK-style rifle to target Hispanics both inside and outside the store. Just moments before the attack, he posted a racist manifesto online, expressing concerns about a Hispanic "invasion" of Texas.
His attorneys have revealed that Crusius was compelled to quit his job at a movie theater due to violent thoughts.
Crusius entered a guilty plea in February after federal prosecutors removed the death penalty as an option. However, Texas prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty when he faces trial in state court, although a trial date has not yet been established.
According to court filings, the agreement stipulates that Crusius will make payments totaling $5,557,005.55.
Dean Reckard, whose mother Margie Reckard lost her life in the tragedy, opted not to be part of the restitution process, expressing skepticism about the feasibility of a life-sentenced individual paying millions of dollars. He emphasized that no amount of money can bring back their loved ones.
Joe Spencer, Crusius' attorney, and the Justice Department's spokesperson did not respond to inquiries on Monday.
Earlier this year, the Justice Department proposed changes to manage federal prisoners' deposit accounts to ensure victims receive restitution, even from high-profile inmates with substantial balances. This proposal emerged in the wake of revelations that some high-profile inmates maintained large sums in their prison accounts but made minimal payments to their victims.
The 2019 Walmart attack stood as the deadliest of a dozen mass shootings in the U.S. linked to hate crimes since 2006, based on a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University.
Crusius had been deeply engaged in the nation's immigration discourse before the shooting, posting #BuildtheWall and endorsing then-President Donald Trump's strict border policies on social media. His pre-attack manifesto echoed fears of a Hispanic takeover of the government and economy.
In another distressing situation, reports have emerged of alleged sexual abuse of children on a secluded island in the Philippines, carried out by a doomsday cult led by an individual who claims to be a reincarnation of Jesus. See detailed story here
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