The man accused of killing 22 people in a mass shooting in an El Paso Walmart confessed to police that he was targeting Mexicans, according to authorities.
Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man was in a stopped vehicle in a left turn lane when police arrived at the site of the carnage on Saturday, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
He exited the vehicle with his hands raised and told law enforcement officers, “I’m the shooter,” detective Adrian Garcia wrote in the affidavit.
The shooter told police that he drove more than 10 hours from his home in Allen, Texas, near Dallas, with an assault rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.
“The defendant stated once inside the store, he opened fire using his AK-47, shooting multiple victims,” according to the affidavit, The Washington Post reported.
Investigators are trying to confirm whether Crusius was the also author of a statement posted online roughly 20 minutes prior to the shooting that called for halting a “Hispanic invasion” of Texas.
Eight of the 22 fatalities were Mexican nationals and Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, has raised the possibility of seeking Crusius’ extradition to face charges south of the border.
Mexico’s Foreign Secretary, Marcelo Ebrard, has raised the possibility of seeking Crusius’ extradition to face charges south of the border.
US President Donald Trump had condemned the mass shooting incident at a Walmart store in Texas and called it an act of cowardice.
Trump said that there is no justification for the killing of innocent people.
“There are no reasons or excuses that will even justify the killing of innocent people”, he added.