Since the federal government is not seeking the death penalty against a white supremacist who shot and killed 23 people at a Texas Wal-Mart, why did the federal government file hate crime charges?

By Daniel Alman (aka Dan from Squirrel Hill)

January 21, 2023

Associated Press recently reported:

US won’t seek death penalty for alleged Texas Walmart gunman

January 18, 2023

Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally shooting nearly two dozen people in a racist attack at a West Texas Walmart in 2019.

The U.S. Department of Justice disclosed the decision not to pursue capital punishment against Patrick Crusius in a one-sentence notice filed Tuesday with the federal court in El Paso.

Crusius, 24, is accused of targeting Mexicans during the Aug. 3 massacre that killed 23 people and left dozens wounded. The Dallas-area native is charged with federal hate crimes and firearms violations, as well as capital murder in state court. He has pleaded not guilty.

Federal prosecutors did not explain in their court filing the reason for their decision, though Crusius still could face the death penalty if convicted in state court.

Crusius surrendered to police after the attack, saying, “I’m the shooter,” and that he was targeting Mexicans, according to an arrest warrant. Prosecutors have said he published a screed online shortly before the shooting that said it was “in response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas.”

I don’t understand the purpose of filing federal hate crime charges if the federal government is not seeking the death penalty.

Since the federal government is not seeking the death penalty, I would prefer that the federal government drop all charges, and let the state of Texas handle this. Texas would definitely seek the death penalty.

For the record, I am against passing hate crimes laws, but I am in favor of enforcing the hate crime laws that are already on the book.

Also, in my opinion, if a person is convicted of first degree murder, and there is video proof, then I support executing that person. This particular crime happened in a place where there are cameras everywhere.