Gag order issued after El Paso DA issues statement on El Paso Walmart shooter case
EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — A district judge ordered a gag order for all parties involved in the suspected El Paso Walmart shooter's case.
The order was a result of a status hearing for Patrick Crusius Friday morning.
Judge Sam Medrano for the 409th District Court placed a gag order for the prosecution and the defense team.
Both parties are not allowed to discuss the case publicly.
Medrano reprimanded El Paso District Attorney Yvonne Rosales for releasing a statement last week and speaking to the media about the case.
Rosales' statement indicated she was working to schedule the trial against Crusius for the summer of 2023 and was seeking the death penalty.
Crusius was not present at Friday's hearing.
The court waived Crusius' appearance. The court would have needed permission from U.S. District Judge David C. Guaderrama.
Joe Spencer, defense attorney, said it will take a long time to get jurors and evidence ready in preparation for the case.
Spenser said he felt it was unnecessary for Rosales to push for an earlier start date for the trial.
"To hear the district attorneys office say they anticipate voir dire in a death penalty case being two months much less a case of this magnitude that occurred on August 3 is going to take six to eight months in my opinion," a defense attorney said.
Crusius is accused of killing 23 people at the Cielo Vista Walmart in El Paso on August 3, 2019.
Crusius is charged with capital murder in Texas and federal hate crimes and firearms offenses.
Guaderrama set the date for the federal jury trial to begin on January 8, 2024, according to court documents.
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