EP. 218 - TEXAS: The El Paso Walmart Shooting (Pt. 2)

Interactive Transcript

spk_0 Today's episode is sponsored by, I know what you did last summer.

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spk_0 August 3rd, 2019, was your typical Saturday morning in the town of El Paso, Texas.

spk_0 It was warm.

spk_0 The sun was shining down, and the hum of traffic filled the streets as people ran their

spk_0 errands.

spk_0 With summer winding down, many residents made their way to the local Walmart for some

spk_0 back to school shopping.

spk_0 Within the store, parents were filling their carts with notebooks, pencils, and backpacks,

spk_0 while their children happily darted between aisles.

spk_0 Other people were there, stalking up on groceries for the week.

spk_0 The McDonald's at the front of the store was filled with families grabbing a quick bite

spk_0 to eat.

spk_0 Some had stopped by the store's first convenience bank to deposit a check or withdraw some money.

spk_0 There were nearly 100 people inside, each with their own purpose.

spk_0 And like anyone who stops by a grocery store, it was a menial part of their day.

spk_0 But for some, it would be the last thing they would ever do before their life came to

spk_0 a tragic end.

spk_0 Because while everyone was shopping, a cowardly man was sitting in the parking lot with

spk_0 one singular purpose to end the lives of as many Hispanic people as possible.

spk_0 So this is part two of the El Paso Walmart shooting.

spk_0 In next week's episode, we will be talking about the gunmen's arrest, the trial, and

spk_0 the aftermath of the tragedy.

spk_0 So with that, I'm Courtney Browen.

spk_0 And I'm Colin Browen.

spk_0 And you're listening to Murder in America.

spk_0 El Paso, Texas is filled with hard-working people, great restaurants and small businesses,

spk_0 plenty of celebrations, and a lot of love.

spk_0 It's the sixth largest city in the state with a population of around 679,000 residents.

spk_0 It's located in far west Texas and sits right on the U.S. Mexico border.

spk_0 A border it shares with the Mexican city of Juarez.

spk_0 So about 80% of its residents are Hispanic.

spk_0 Because of that, it is a beautiful blend of American and Mexican cultures.

spk_0 In addition to celebrating American holidays like the 4th of July, the city also celebrates

spk_0 Mexican holidays with vibrant parades like the Dia de los Muertos Parade and the Vivamos

spk_0 Mexico official Grito Celebration, which commemorates Mexican Independence Day.

spk_0 So for many of the people who live there, they get to honor their Mexican heritage while

spk_0 also embracing their life here in America, which is exactly what makes America a beautiful

spk_0 country.

spk_0 A country with people from all different backgrounds and cultures who get to work towards the American

spk_0 dream while still celebrating where they have come from.

spk_0 But all of those things that we just mentioned about the beauty of El Paso and its residents

spk_0 are the exact reasons why this city was targeted in 2019.

spk_0 Around this time and even more so today, there are people in America who vilify immigrants.

spk_0 Then there's a subgroup of people who wish harm upon them.

spk_0 Many of these people find like-minded individuals online and together they spread their hate far

spk_0 and wide.

spk_0 One of those people was a 21-year-old from the suburbs of Dallas.

spk_0 This coward who never amounted to much in his life decided that he wanted to send a message

spk_0 to immigrants here in the United States.

spk_0 And he came up with a plan to kill as many Hispanic people as possible.

spk_0 For him, a place like El Paso, or the majority of people speak Spanish and have darker skin,

spk_0 was the perfect location to carry out his demented plan.

spk_0 People often refer to El Paso as the Sun City, as the majority of the year it's bright

spk_0 and sunny.

spk_0 And while that may have been the case on August 3rd, 2019, this day would end in complete

spk_0 darkness.

spk_0 That morning, 58-year-old Maria Eugenia Leggeretta Roth had entered the Walmart to do some shopping.

spk_0 Maria was born in Mexico in 1961.

spk_0 Her family was well-known in the area for their restaurant and livestock business.

spk_0 But Maria had always dreamt of being a mother.

spk_0 Her four children were her pride and joy.

spk_0 One of her friends said, quote, she never stopped smiling.

spk_0 She was a wonderful woman, very dedicated to her children in a wonderful cook.

spk_0 End quote.

spk_0 At the time of our story, Maria was still living in Mexico.

spk_0 With that morning, she drove to El Paso to pick up her 16-year-old daughter Natalie

spk_0 from the airport.

spk_0 Natalie was her youngest.

spk_0 She had been traveling in Europe.

spk_0 And Maria was so excited to be reunited.

spk_0 After making the drive to El Paso, while she waited for Natalie's plane to arrive, Maria

spk_0 decided to stop by the Walmart to pick up a few things.

spk_0 Shortly after 10.30 a.m., she walked to the front of the store, paid for her items, and

spk_0 then walked out.

spk_0 But as she made her way to her car, she saw something that made her stop and her tracks.

spk_0 It was a young man wearing a black shirt, khaki pants, goggles, earmuffs, and gloves.

spk_0 But the most notable thing about him was the rifle he was holding.

spk_0 The two locked eyes, and immediately Maria knew her life was in danger.

spk_0 Suddenly, she was staring down the barrel of his gun, and the man started walking right

spk_0 towards her.

spk_0 She attempted to get away, even running behind a nearby van to shield herself, but it

spk_0 was too late.

spk_0 The gunmen pulled the trigger, killing Maria instantly.

spk_0 Her family would later say that later that day, when they couldn't get a hold of Maria,

spk_0 they began to worry.

spk_0 And then, along with the rest of the world, they learned about the mass shooting.

spk_0 For hours and hours, all they could do was pray and hope that she wasn't a victim.

spk_0 That this was all just a misunderstanding, and that she would come home.

spk_0 Her sister Martha even posted on social media, hoping to find her.

spk_0 But eventually, their worst fears were confirmed.

spk_0 Maria was one of the murder victims.

spk_0 Now, by this point, every American has had to put ourselves in that situation.

spk_0 What to do if you find yourself in a mass shooting?

spk_0 So, when those first shots rang out, many people ran from the scene.

spk_0 Some who were leaving Walmart ran back inside thinking that the threat was contained in the

spk_0 parking lot, but not everyone would have their chance to get away.

spk_0 The gunman made his way towards another man in the parking lot.

spk_0 66-year-old Alexander Hoffman was born on November 8, 1952, in Germany.

spk_0 He served in the German Air Force and was eventually stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso.

spk_0 While there, he crossed the border into Mexico, and that's when he met his future wife,

spk_0 Rosa Maria Valdez Garcia. Together, the couple would move to Europe and have three children.

spk_0 But in the late 80s, they decided to move to Mexico.

spk_0 According to Rosa, Alexander considered Mexico his home and happily referred to himself as a

spk_0 Mexican. He loved James Bond's Star Trek and the Beatles. His daughter Elise described him as

spk_0 a gentle giant with a big heart. Now, after leaving the military,

spk_0 Alexander found work as an engineer, and that's what he would do for the rest of his life.

spk_0 He absolutely loved working on different projects, even after he retired.

spk_0 On that morning, Alexander Hoffman had just arrived at Walmart to pick up some tools and furniture

spk_0 for an upcoming project. He often crossed the border to buy supplies at this very Walmart.

spk_0 But unfortunately, on August 3rd, it would be his last trip, as the gunman quickly shot him down

spk_0 in the parking lot. Alexander was born in Germany after World War II, and he often told his family

spk_0 how important it was to study history. He knew firsthand what could happen if you let hate

spk_0 fill your heart. And sadly, this very hatred that Alexander warned against is the same hatred

spk_0 the gunman had within himself. Directly in front of the Walmart, a children's soccer team was

spk_0 holding a fundraiser. Three dads, Luis Calvio, Beni McGuire and Memo Garcia, decided to create the

spk_0 soccer team called the El Paso Fusion Soccer Club for their young daughters. The girls on the

spk_0 team were aged 9 through 11. Luis was the head coach, and his goal was to encourage the girls and

spk_0 make them feel supported in a sport that they loved. Nice job, Emily. Good job. To get to the top,

spk_0 we've got to win the final first. I believe in you. On the morning of August 3rd, 2019,

spk_0 the team had set up a tent in the front of Walmart. They were selling chicharones and cold drinks

spk_0 to fundraise for their very first out-of-state tournament. Over a dozen girls stood out there

spk_0 wearing hot pink shirts, holding signs, and greeting the people walking inside. Here are some

spk_0 clips from that morning, right before tragedy unfolded. I want to let this guy chicharones

spk_0 start to make it happen, guys. Hey, I coach Memo. Woo! Hey, hey, Maddie. Good job. Good job.

spk_0 One of the girls on the team was named Emily. Her father was Luis, the head coach. At one point,

spk_0 Luis went live on Facebook and told the players, quote, say hi girls, tell them to come out and

spk_0 support. End quote. Now that morning, Luis's father, an Emily's grandfather, 61-year-old Jorge

spk_0 Calovio Garcia, made his way to the Walmart to support the team. Jorge spent most of his life in

spk_0 Wraez, but had recently relocated to El Paso and worked there as an accountant. He had three children,

spk_0 including Luis, who was the head coach of the soccer team. But more than anything, Jorge loved

spk_0 being a grandparent. He was always so supportive of the EP Fusion Soccer team. That morning,

spk_0 he had even volunteered to bring them food and water. His sister, Elizabeth, said, quote,

spk_0 he was a beautiful human being, an excellent dad, uncle, husband, and brother. End quote.

spk_0 Around 10.30 that morning, Jorge pulled up to the EP Fusion tent and his pickup truck.

spk_0 Shortly before he got there, he called to place a huge order to support them. When he arrived,

spk_0 he immediately greeted his son and granddaughter, only to hear shots ring out moments later.

spk_0 After killing the first few people in the parking lot, the gunmen started walking straight

spk_0 towards the little girls at the front of the Walmart. Many of the girls on the team were Hispanic,

spk_0 as were their parents. So it didn't matter to the gunmen that these were children. They were the

spk_0 exact targets he was looking for that day. And soon enough, he lifted his gun and started

spk_0 shooting in their direction. Instinctively, Jorge courageously shielded his granddaughter and her

spk_0 teammates from the bullets. In the process, he would be shot, along with his son Luis,

spk_0 and several other parents who were there. But tragically, Jorge would lose his life protecting

spk_0 the young girls. His sister Elizabeth would later write on Facebook, quote, it's not goodbye here,

spk_0 but see you soon. End quote. Another person who was shot was 36-year-old

spk_0 Memo Garcia, one of the coaches of the team. Born on November 29, 1979 in El Paso,

spk_0 Memo was a devoted husband to Jessica and father to 11-year-old Karina and five-year-old Guillermo,

spk_0 Jr. His family gave him the nickname Tank because he was a big guy standing at 6-3 and nearly 400 pounds.

spk_0 During his childhood, he was described as being a jokester and he always loved the game of soccer.

spk_0 Memo and Jessica both attended Montwood High School, but Jessica would later say,

spk_0 I was really shy. He was older than I was. He was very outgoing. He was always funny, always smiling,

spk_0 always happy. I reached a point where I realized I just couldn't be without seeing him.

spk_0 According to family members, Memo was really good with the ladies, but the only woman he wanted

spk_0 was Jessica. After high school, the two wanted a fresh start, so they moved to saline, Kansas,

spk_0 and worked together at a pizza factory. But things were rough in the beginning. They slept on a

spk_0 mattress on the floor and used black towels as curtains. However, none of that mattered to them.

spk_0 They were just happy to have each other. Nine years into their relationship,

spk_0 Memo placed a ring in a box of chocolates and then told Jessica to open it.

spk_0 She later laughed, saying that the piece of chocolate with the ring was wrapped completely

spk_0 differently than all the others. But of course, she said yes. And the two went on to live a

spk_0 beautiful life together. After moving back to El Paso, they stayed committed to raising their

spk_0 children in a loving and supportive home. And Memo was extremely active in their lives.

spk_0 He coached Karina's soccer team and volunteered on Guillermo Jr.'s T-ball team.

spk_0 For him, his children were everything. If his children had an early morning game,

spk_0 he would start his work day at 3 a.m. just to make sure he could make it to their tournaments.

spk_0 Tragically, on the morning of August 3rd, when the gunfire started in the Walmart parking lot,

spk_0 Memo was shot three times while shielding his daughter. His wife Jessica was also shot.

spk_0 Within seconds, witnesses reported bodies being sprawled out on the concrete. There was blood

spk_0 everywhere. People were screaming. The injured were groaning and agony.

spk_0 Near the tent, the drinks and food that the girls were selling covered the ground.

spk_0 Now Memo Garcia was still alive after that round of gunfire. Another coach, Beni McGuire,

spk_0 rushed to his side. He heard him screaming that he had been hit. Blood was pouring from a gunshot

spk_0 wound to his hip. Here are some audio clips from outside the Walmart that morning.

spk_0 I see coach Memo down. I'm hit. I'm hit. And I see him putting pressure on his hip.

spk_0 And I was like, keep the pressure, keep the pressure. And I look over to my left.

spk_0 And Luis is trying to get up.

spk_0 So when I turn around, I'm like, somebody help. Like somebody.

spk_0 When help finally arrived, Memo was brought to a hospital where he fought for his life in the ICU.

spk_0 His wife Jessica ended up making a full recovery. But sadly, nine months after the shooting,

spk_0 after over 50 surgeries, Memo lost his life, becoming the final victim of this massacre.

spk_0 Now, another parent who was outside helping with the fundraiser was Mary Bell Latine.

spk_0 When those first shots rang out, she dropped to the ground. The gunman continued shooting all around her.

spk_0 I just yelled, this shooting threesome on the floor. We all threw ourselves on the floor.

spk_0 We had nowhere to run. There was nowhere, no way we could have ran out of there.

spk_0 I hit behind the SUV that was there, behind the tire. And I looked to the front. This guy was

spk_0 too far away from us, just shooting at us. And I saw him reload his gun and walk towards us.

spk_0 And he just called Vladily Kien, straight at us and shot us. He shot eight rounds. I had to

spk_0 cut eight more rounds. And all I could say is God, please take care of my children.

spk_0 And please don't let them do anything to my daughter or any of the girls in our team.

spk_0 And it's not fair that somebody from God knows where, just short of ended something. So

spk_0 ugly to us. It was so much hatred. I felt him right next to him. He was right next to him for me.

spk_0 I, he wasn't breathing hard. He was the calmest person ever. He didn't say anything.

spk_0 Just for playing hatred and just anger.

spk_0 Maribel said that right when she thought she was about to die, the gunmen walked away.

spk_0 She had been shot twice, but thankfully she would survive. Despite the immense pain she felt

spk_0 from her gunshot wounds, she got up to find her daughter and the other girls from the soccer team.

spk_0 And that's when she learned that a bakery worker from inside the Walmart had brought them to safety.

spk_0 Luckily, all of the young girls from the soccer team would make it out alive.

spk_0 Aja Gonzalez would later recall that she was at the Walmart with her mother when the shooting started.

spk_0 Now she was a teacher, but she married an army captain who taught her what to do in these scenarios.

spk_0 And because of her, she was able to bring some of these young girls to safety.

spk_0 We walk into the Walmart, me and my mother as usual, normal day.

spk_0 And that's when we heard three gunshots. So I told my mom to wait here and see what was going on in

spk_0 the front. That's when I saw the shooter with a black shirt, khaki, pants, and with a gun.

spk_0 It was going towards a child, maybe if I could remember, maybe like seven, eight years old.

spk_0 That's when I started to shout out to everybody to follow me and to go to this exit door,

spk_0 which is in back of Walmart. And that's where I was pushing everybody out.

spk_0 Like we need to get out. We need to get out. People were going crazy and looking at their phones,

spk_0 not knowing where to go. And I was just being patient and very calm and just getting everyone out

spk_0 as soon as possible. I thought I was going to die. I even called my wife.

spk_0 And I told her, if I don't make it, I just wanted to know that I love you.

spk_0 And I tell my family and my nieces and my nephews that I love them. And I told her, I need to,

spk_0 I need to hang up. And that was it.

spk_0 As the chaos unfolded outside, Walmart's store manager, Robert Evans, who is near one of the

spk_0 entrances checking emails on his phone, heard the gunshots and immediately issued a code brown,

spk_0 which meant active shooter. Robert screamed out to everyone in the store that a man with a gun

spk_0 was on his way inside the building. And he tried to usher as many people as he could towards the back.

spk_0 Within seconds, customers and employees fled through aisles and cloning racks. People were

spk_0 grabbing random children and running with them to safety. There was panic as people tried to escape.

spk_0 Screams of run, shooter, tiros, vaminos could be heard throughout the store.

spk_0 But not everyone heard these warnings. And if they did, for some of them, there was no time to

spk_0 react. Because before they knew it, the gunman was inside. A man named Christopher Grant was in

spk_0 the produce section with his elderly mother when he saw the gunman outside. I saw him standing in

spk_0 the parking lot and I saw him popping people out. I was inside the produce department, which is

spk_0 right by the front door. And I saw him popping people off. And I was like, you know, this is crazy.

spk_0 So to deter him, I started just chunking bottles. I just started throwing bottles, random bottles at him.

spk_0 And I'm not a baseball player. So one went this way and one went that way. And then one went

spk_0 right towards him. And then that's when he saw me. And I just started and I ducked and I was

spk_0 behind the chips. And so I ducked and he just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, started firing off

spk_0 rounds at me. And I was like, oh my god, this guy is shooting at me.

spk_0 Eventually Christopher was struck by a bullet. And then so when I got hit, it was like, it was

spk_0 like somebody put a hand grenade in your back and pulled the pin. That's basically what it felt like.

spk_0 Felt like. And then so I was like, oh my god, I got to get up. I got to get up. Get up, get up, get up.

spk_0 After being shot, Christopher and his mother were able to run towards the auto department.

spk_0 While there, he ran into a federal agent named Donna. Christopher would later say that she was his

spk_0 guardian angel. Donna helped patch up his wound and she even threw him into the back of a pick-up

spk_0 truck so that he could be taken to the hospital. And luckily, he would make a full recovery.

spk_0 But that wasn't the case for everyone. 82-year-old Teresa Sanchez had lived in El Paso for over 30 years.

spk_0 She was a mother, a sister, and aunt and a friend to many. In her earlier years,

spk_0 she worked as a biology teacher. But after retiring, her life slowed down a bit. However,

spk_0 she made sure to stay active. In 2019, Teresa and her 80-year-old sister Rosa were living together.

spk_0 The two had been closed throughout their life. And now that they were older, they had each other

spk_0 to lean on. On most weekends, Teresa and Rosa would go shopping in town with their niece,

spk_0 Rosemary Vega. And this weekend was just like any other. The three had spent the morning

spk_0 browsing the aisles at Walmart, picking out their food for the week. At 10.39 AM,

spk_0 they had just finished checking out and were walking towards the exit when they came face-to-face

spk_0 with the gunmen. When bullets came flying at them, Teresa, Rosa, and Rosemary were all hit.

spk_0 Luckily, Rosa and Rosemary would survive. But after being shot three times, 82-year-old Teresa would

spk_0 pass away. But as you can imagine, the inside of Walmart was complete chaos. And in this next clip,

spk_0 we are going to play some audio from inside.

spk_0 As those first shots rang out, the people inside Walmart began to panic. Some were able to run

spk_0 to the back of the store. But for many, there was nowhere to go, as the gunmen was right in front of

spk_0 them. 90-year-old Luis Alfonso Juarez and his wife of 70 years, Martha, were out shopping for

spk_0 groceries that morning. It's what they did every Saturday. Born in 1929, Luis had immigrated to the

spk_0 United States for Mexico. He got his citizenship, bought a home, and he worked as an iron worker for

spk_0 decades. He was living out the American dream. Throughout his career, Luis helped construct multiple

spk_0 buildings throughout El Paso and Los Angeles. And he was considered a master welder.

spk_0 After meeting Martha, the two got married. And they went on to have seven children.

spk_0 From that, they had 20 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

spk_0 Luis was proud of his family, and they all loved him dearly. They described him as, quote,

spk_0 kind, sweet, and loving. When people mistreated him, he always understood and felt that everyone was

spk_0 going through something, so we need to be nice to each other. He was fascinated to learn about

spk_0 other cultures, and was always curious before he was ever angry. End quote. Luis was also very wise.

spk_0 Anytime someone had a problem, they always came to him because he had the best advice.

spk_0 In his older years, Luis retired from his welding job, but his family said that he still

spk_0 took on welding projects from time to time. He was very independent. He liked to keep himself busy.

spk_0 In fact, even though he was 90 years old, he had just painted his house. His granddaughter said, quote,

spk_0 you'd think he was 20 years younger. End quote. It was a running saying within his family that he

spk_0 was definitely going to live past 100, given how healthy and active he was. And that very well

spk_0 may have been the case if Luis hadn't been in Walmart that morning. But sadly, near the front of

spk_0 the store, Luis was shot and killed in front of his wife. He was the oldest victim. His family would

spk_0 later say, quote, we can't begin to describe the pain we are all feeling right now, and we are

spk_0 heartbroken that our grandmother's final years with her husband were so violently ripped away.

spk_0 End quote. Inside the Walmart that morning chaos unfolded. Like they teach in mass shooting

spk_0 scenarios, if you're unable to run, you hide, which is exactly what some people did. Some hid

spk_0 behind merchandise, clothing racks, or near the cash registers up front. Here's one video that

spk_0 someone took from their cell phone. 57 year old Elsa Mendoza de la Mora and her husband Antonio

spk_0 had arrived at Walmart that morning after crossing over the border. The two lived in Mexico,

spk_0 and would often come to the United States to visit family and shop for groceries. Elsa and

spk_0 Antonio loved their life together. They had two beautiful children. Elsa was a special education

spk_0 teacher and a principal at an elementary school. Antonio was a professor at a university in Mexico.

spk_0 In Elsa's 30 years of teaching, she touched the hearts of hundreds of people. One of her

spk_0 colleagues said, quote, Elsa was very giving and very dedicated. End quote. One of her

spk_0 motto was, things done with love are done better. Antonio would later say that Elsa was, quote,

spk_0 the most wonderful of woman, of being full of light. End quote. Now that morning, as the two pulled

spk_0 into the parking lot of the Walmart, Antonio decided to stay in the car while Elsa ran inside

spk_0 to pick up a few things. After the gunshots rang out, Antonio saw people running from the Walmart.

spk_0 He then saw the bodies laying on the concrete outside. Once he understood what was happening,

spk_0 she desperately waited, scanning the faces of the people running outside, hoping and praying to see

spk_0 his wife. But even after help arrived and the survivors made their way out, Elsa was nowhere to be

spk_0 found. He would later find out that she had been shot and killed inside the Walmart that morning.

spk_0 Antonio would later write on Facebook, quote, I bid for well to my companion, the most marvelous

spk_0 of women, a person full of light, who will continue illuminating our way for the rest of our

spk_0 lives. You're going to miss you love. End quote. Another victim who was shot and killed inside the

spk_0 store was 63 year old Margie K record. Born on August 21st, 1955 in Washington, D.C., Margie

spk_0 didn't have the easiest childhood. She married young and raised three children, Dean Henry and Hilda

spk_0 in Omaha, Nebraska. Her first husband passed away in 1995 and in the late 90s, she met Antonio

spk_0 Bosco at a bar. Antonio told CNN that Margie kept smiling at him and he eventually got the courage

spk_0 to approach her. And from that moment on, their lives changed forever. Antonio said, me and my wife

spk_0 had a bond, a magnificent bond, and never felt anything like that in my life. Margie married him when

spk_0 she was in her 40s and despite her rough upbringing, they went on to have a beautiful life together.

spk_0 They traveled around the country and eventually settled in El Paso. The couple ran a local car wash

spk_0 in town and lived a modest but happy life. Unfortunately, Margie was recently diagnosed with Parkinson's

spk_0 disease but she never let it get her down. In fact, she had recently undergone surgery and it seemed

spk_0 to have been successful. She was hopeful for the future. Antonio called her in angel and said she

spk_0 was the brains of the family. They often said their life together was like a fairy tale.

spk_0 Antonio said, I mean, you didn't even have to be there to talk to her. You can just look at how

spk_0 she was, how she acted, how she presented herself. She was an awesome lady. The two had been together

spk_0 for 22 years and although those years were beautiful, they didn't seem like enough. Antonio said,

spk_0 I've been lost. I'm like a puppy run away from its mama. She took care of me. We were going to

spk_0 live together and die together. That was our plan. But sadly, all those plans changed when Margie was

spk_0 gunned down inside of the Walmart that morning. Now we're still just seconds into the shooting

spk_0 and soon enough 911 calls started pouring in. But the police just couldn't get there fast enough.

spk_0 After murdering Margie K record, the gunman approached 41-year-old Leonardo compost junior and his

spk_0 wife of 16 years Mary Bell Hernandez-Loya. Leonardo grew up in San Juan. In high school, he was the

spk_0 golly on the bear soccer team and the kicker for the football team. His brother David compost,

spk_0 who was 15 years younger, recalled Leonardo coaching his little league baseball team and pushing him

spk_0 in his teammates to excel. David told the El Paso Times, he was super tough on us but it was worth it.

spk_0 It was so much fun and he made me a better player and a better man. He would tell us to never give up,

spk_0 no matter what life throws at you. Leonardo was described as funny and outgoing and that he loved

spk_0 making other people laugh, which is what caught the eye of Mary Bell Hernandez-Loya. She was born in 1963,

spk_0 and according to her loved ones, she was the most amazing woman. She was nurturing kind and her

spk_0 warm personality touched every single person that she came into contact with. When Mary Bell and

spk_0 Leonardo met for the first time, it was obvious that they were a great match. At the time,

spk_0 Mary Bell had four children of her own, but Leonardo didn't mind. In fact, he loved her children as

spk_0 if they were his own. After he and Mary Bell got married, they made the move to El Paso in 2009,

spk_0 and according to his brother David, Leonardo fell in love with this city and he wanted to make a

spk_0 difference here. He had even recently gone back to school so he could become a teacher. Mary Bell

spk_0 was so proud of her husband. She watched him work so hard for this career change and she supported

spk_0 him wholeheartedly. Now, on this morning in particular, Leonardo and Mary Bell had just dropped

spk_0 off their beloved dog, Fifi, at the groomer. And while they waited, they decided to head to Walmart

spk_0 for some shopping. Later that day, the couple's grandchildren planned to stop by their house,

spk_0 so they wanted to buy them some school supplies for the upcoming year. But while they browsed the

spk_0 aisles, they came face to face with the gunman. While trying to run for safety, sadly, they were both

spk_0 shot dead. Sadly, their family members had no idea the couple was even at Walmart that morning.

spk_0 Later that day, when they failed to pick up their dog, the groomers ended up calling the couple's

spk_0 children and it was in that moment where the family began to panic. By then, word of the mass

spk_0 shooting had spread all across the nation. So with a horrible feeling in their gut, they looked at

spk_0 the couple's location and when they saw that they were at Walmart, their worst fears suddenly

spk_0 became a reality. Just to be safe, they even drove to the Walmart and they're in the parking lot

spk_0 and they found their vehicle empty. Along with all the other empty, still parked cars belonging to

spk_0 the other victims. Back inside the Walmart, a man named Alden Hall was grocery shopping. Alden was

spk_0 originally from New York, but at the time he was serving in the army in El Paso. The father of

spk_0 three heard a loud commotion moments earlier, but even though he was familiar with the sound of

spk_0 fire, he just couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was hearing gunshots within Walmart.

spk_0 Alden had just turned down the produce aisle when he saw the shooter. According to him, the two

spk_0 looked each other right in the eye and he even watched the gunman smirk as he lifted his gun.

spk_0 When he entered the story, he gave me a smirk so I knew he's and aimed directly towards me. So

spk_0 it was directly to me and then he hit the person next to me. They were on the floor and then after

spk_0 that, I kind of feel like I was still targeted so I kept moving and then after I lost the person,

spk_0 the shooter then, apparently after that, he was just shooting generally towards everybody.

spk_0 When you turned and took off, how quickly after that did you hear gunfire?

spk_0 Approximately four seconds after and hit the guy next to me. How close was the man next to him?

spk_0 What did the arms last? Did he survive? The first shot, yes, not the second shot.

spk_0 Alden took cover in the aisles of food, but soon enough, there were dead bodies all around him.

spk_0 He turned a try and helped them, but after realizing many of them were dead and the threat was

spk_0 still right there, he decided to run towards the emergency exit. Luckily, Alden would make it out

spk_0 alive, but the same can't be said for many others, like 41-year-old Ivan Filipino Menzano.

spk_0 Ivan had crossed the border from war as that morning to pick up a package at Walmart. He was a

spk_0 Mexican citizen and happily married to the love of his life, Adriana Sandry. Together, they had an

spk_0 eight-year-old son and a five-year-old daughter. According to his family, Ivan was a dedicated

spk_0 family man, a hard worker, and an avid marathon runner. He was also the sole provider for his family.

spk_0 Over in Wraez, he ran a retail business, which often required him to cross the border to El Paso

spk_0 to buy supplies for his business, which is exactly what he was doing that day. That morning,

spk_0 he and his aunt Patricia had crossed the border to pick up some items. Patricia decided to go to a

spk_0 Walmart on the west side of town, and Ivan headed straight for the Silo Vista Walmart.

spk_0 According to his WhatsApp messages, the last message he would ever send was at 10.21am.

spk_0 Shortly after, Ivan would be shot dead three days after his 41st birthday.

spk_0 When his family got word of the shooting in El Paso and they weren't able to contact Ivan,

spk_0 they rushed over to a nearby elementary school where they waited for hours.

spk_0 And then finally, they got the news. When they found out that Ivan was a victim of this massacre,

spk_0 they were devastated. His mom, Josefina Menzano said that he was a pillar of their family.

spk_0 Someone she could always rely on. She said, quote, I saw him care for his children, for his wife.

spk_0 We could depend on him emotionally and spiritually. End quote. And that was true. In fact,

spk_0 his mom, Josefina had recently had a heart attack in April. And following the incident,

spk_0 Ivan dropped everything to give her the care she needed, which is how he was with everyone he loved.

spk_0 His wife would later say that when it came to telling their children about their father's death,

spk_0 she couldn't even bring herself to tell them what really happened.

spk_0 How do you tell an eight and five year old that their father was murdered in cold blood

spk_0 by a man who wanted to kill him strictly because of his skin color? His wife would later say that

spk_0 instead she told her kids that Ivan was in an accident. And one day when they're ready,

spk_0 she'll tell them the truth about what really happened.

spk_0 Also in the Walmart that morning was 66 year old Sarah Esther regaldo Moriel and her husband

spk_0 68 year old Adolfo Seros Hernandez. Both were from Mexico. They had three daughters, including

spk_0 Sandra, Yvonne Seros and four grandchildren. Sero was the matriarch of the family and the family

spk_0 photographs of her and Adolfo showed their deep love for one another. Although details about

spk_0 their backgrounds are limited, we know that both were loved and adored by their family members and

spk_0 friends. Like many of the people in Walmart that morning, the couple regularly traveled across the

spk_0 border into El Paso to do their shopping. And like many, they were murdered in cold blood.

spk_0 When words spread about the horrific massacre, their family members became frantic.

spk_0 Because they didn't live in America, their family had a hard time getting information on what

spk_0 happened. Eventually, they got confirmation that they were two of the victims.

spk_0 Their daughter Sandra posted to Facebook saying, with deep pain in our hearts, we inform you

spk_0 that our dear parents died in the tragic shooting. I don't know how long it will take for my soul

spk_0 to heal. We thank you infinitely for your prayers, your support, concern, calls and messages.

spk_0 They have been a great company during this crisis. She later posted a photo of her grandparents

spk_0 sitting at a table holding up drinks and toast. A happy image that they wanted to remember them by.

spk_0 Their granddaughter, Vilka Yu, later wrote on Facebook, I don't know if heaven exists,

spk_0 but if it does, I hope you are as comfortable and happy as you are here.

spk_0 Another couple inside the Walmart that morning was 77 year old Maria Flores,

spk_0 and her husband, 83 year old Raoul Flores. The two had been married for 60 beautiful years,

spk_0 and during that time, they hardly ever spent a day apart. The couple met in Wara's, Mexico

spk_0 decades earlier when Raoul worked as a tailor. Their family later said, quote,

spk_0 he would make sure he was outside sweeping when Maria would walk down the sidewalk.

spk_0 He tried getting her attention by asking her, shall I brush your hair, as emotioned with the broom,

spk_0 end quote. And eventually, his tactic worked. After giving him a chance, Maria was swept off her

spk_0 feet. Soon after, they married, and Raoul doted on Maria. I think it's safe to say her love

spk_0 language was gifts. And Raoul made sure to fulfill that. He loved buying her shoes and clothes,

spk_0 and watching the smile grow across her face when he gifted them to her. Throughout their life,

spk_0 Raoul was a painter, and Maria was a homemaker who loved to cook large elaborate meals and

spk_0 fancy desserts for her family, while dancing to Elvis Presley, or Marco Antonio Solis.

spk_0 Now in those early days, the couple lived in California, and they went on to have three children.

spk_0 Raoul, Flores, Jr., Latissia, Saldana, and Andriana Flores. Unfortunately, in 1959,

spk_0 they lost their two-week-old infant, Alejandra, to pneumonia. But her death only brought them closer.

spk_0 Now in the early 2000s, as the couple grew older, they decided to relocate to El Paso,

spk_0 and they loved it there. They spent their days together gardening, cooking tamales,

spk_0 and spending quality time with their 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

spk_0 Their family would later say that if their grandkids called Maria, saying they were coming over,

spk_0 they could always expect a plate full of their favorite food when they walked through the door.

spk_0 Raoul and Maria were the backbone of their family, and their love was something special.

spk_0 Their daughters said, quote, they were so much alike my parents, they were inseparable.

spk_0 My whole life that was my goal, to have a marriage, a love like that. End quote.

spk_0 Sadly in the weeks before the shooting, Raoul had been having some health problems. In fact,

spk_0 he was scheduled to have open heart surgery just a few days later. Maria was worried.

spk_0 She loved her husband more than anything, and the thought of something happening to him.

spk_0 After having him right there by her side for her whole life, was scary.

spk_0 To prepare for the upcoming surgery, some of their relatives were coming to stay at their house,

spk_0 so Raoul and Maria went to the Walmart that morning to buy some air mattresses for them.

spk_0 But sadly, just minutes after they arrived, the gunmen came in and shot them both.

spk_0 Raoul and Maria would die on the floor of that Walmart, right next to each other.

spk_0 Their son Raoul Jr. told the Washington Post that even though his parents didn't deserve to die the way

spk_0 they did, he found comfort knowing they died together. He said, quote, I tell myself,

spk_0 maybe it's the Lord's way of doing it. Maybe he knew my father wasn't going to make it

spk_0 during this surgery. And maybe he knew that if anything happened to my father, my mother would be

spk_0 destroyed. Maybe that's why he decided to take them together. End quote.

spk_0 The conspiracy files is the most explosive show on the internet. I'm your host Colin Browne

spk_0 from The Paranormal Files on YouTube, and I'm inviting you to take this twisted journey down the

spk_0 rabbit hole with me. Together, we will dive deep into some of the world's most dangerous and

spk_0 disturbing conspiracy theories, from suspicious suicides to hidden pedophile rings and high-profile

spk_0 cover-ups. On my show, no story is off limits, and no detail will be spared. And trust me,

spk_0 after listening to just one episode, you will never look at the world the same.

spk_0 So, if you like conspiracy's mysteries, true crime and chaos, then this is the show for you.

spk_0 Listen to the conspiracy files now on all streaming platforms, or wherever you get your podcasts.

spk_0 Another couple whose lives were completely changed that day was 60-year-old Arturo Benavitas

spk_0 and his wife Patty. Arturo was born and raised in El Paso. He grew up in the city's South

spk_0 Central neighborhood. After graduating from Jefferson High School, he enlisted in the army in June

spk_0 of 1978. Throughout his military career, he held multiple jobs, Hawk, Missile Cruman, Cargo Specialist,

spk_0 and Motor Transportation Operator. After his time in the military, Arturo worked in El Paso's

spk_0 public transit for 20 years. From 1993 to 2006, he also worked as a bus driver. His niece,

spk_0 Jacqueline Luna, would later say, people would look forward to riding on his bus.

spk_0 Regulars would only ride with him. That says a lot. Now, because of his different jobs,

spk_0 a lot of people around town knew him. Anytime he would go out, people would come up and talk to him.

spk_0 He was a very friendly man that people were drawn to. It is why his wife Patty fell for him.

spk_0 By 2019, the two had been married for 34 years. Throughout that time, they never had children

spk_0 of their own, but their family was everything to them. Their niece, Jacqueline Luna, would later say,

spk_0 I was practically their child. I spent my childhood waking up at their house,

spk_0 sitting out on the front porch with him on Sunday mornings, listening to the oldies on the radio.

spk_0 Jacqueline said that Arturo loved to tell stories, especially from his days in the army. He also

spk_0 loved rock music, pineapple upside down cake, and his dog Milo. But the main thing people remember

spk_0 him by is his kindness. His niece, Jacqueline, said, if anyone ever needed anything, he was the first

spk_0 one there. If we needed a ride, a shirt, or a meal, he was always the first person to offer anything

spk_0 he had. Whenever we all went out to eat, he would pay the whole bill. He didn't want anyone to

spk_0 spend a dime. On this morning, Arturo and Patty made their way to Walmart for their weekly shopping.

spk_0 Now, they usually bought groceries on Sunday after church, but they decided to change it up this week.

spk_0 Around 1040, they stepped up to the self checkout line. And while Arturo scanned all of their

spk_0 merchandise, Patty excused herself to the restroom at the front of the store. However, while she was

spk_0 in there, she heard the horrible sound of gunfire. While we weren't able to figure out exactly what

spk_0 happened with Patty at that moment, whether she stayed in the bathroom or if she ran to safety,

spk_0 we do know that she did survive. However, her husband, Arturo, did not. He was shot and killed at the

spk_0 self checkout line. Patty would later describe the impact Arturo made on her life. She said he was

spk_0 always joking, always laughing, something she will miss dearly. Now, horrifically, there is actually

spk_0 video footage from inside the Walmart that morning. I do not recommend watching it because it is

spk_0 horrific, but in it, shortly after the shooting started, you can see an elderly man walk out of the

spk_0 bathroom towards the front of the store. He clearly had no idea what was going on. And immediately

spk_0 after walking out, the gunman shot him in the back of the head. Now, I don't know who this victim was,

spk_0 but in the footage you see him drop to the ground, face down, clearly succumbing to his injuries.

spk_0 And the gunman just casually walks by his body and walks towards the first convenience bank

spk_0 located at the front of the building. The audio clip we are about to play is from the deadly gunfire

spk_0 that took place inside the bank.

spk_0 Survivor Christopher Grant said that he will never forget the sounds that came from the people in

spk_0 the bank. Before he ran to safety, this is what he heard. And then so he walked to the bank,

spk_0 which was right by the restrooms and just randomly started. I mean, people were praying in Spanish.

spk_0 And he just, they were on the ground and he still just shot him in the head.

spk_0 I mean, they were praying in Spanish. I mean, I'm from Opaso and I know Spanish and they were

spk_0 praying, please, please don't shoot me. And he had no remorse for their lives at all.

spk_0 61-year-old Gloria Irma Marquez had just stepped up to the bank's ATM when the gunman approached her.

spk_0 Gloria was from Mexico. She was described as quote loving, caring, and beautiful. She loved

spk_0 everything bright, including flowers. And she was not a fan of the color black. At the time,

spk_0 Gloria was working for the elderly in Opaso and her patients absolutely loved her. In fact,

spk_0 they would go out of their way to ask for her over other care workers. Now at the time,

spk_0 Gloria had been living with her partner, John Ogas, for 11 years. When the two met,

spk_0 John had fallen on hard times and was living in a rundown trailer. But when Gloria entered his life,

spk_0 everything changed. She helped get him back on his feet and into a new home. John said,

spk_0 quote, she was very protective of the people she loved. End quote. And although they were not

spk_0 married, they often referred to each other as husband and wife. But more than anything in the

spk_0 world, Gloria took pride in being a mother. According to her family, quote, the kids were everything

spk_0 to her. End quote. She had four daughters and four grandkids. Now, two of her daughters lived in

spk_0 America, but the other two still lived in Mexico. Because of this, Gloria had been separated from

spk_0 one of her daughters for over 13 years. But shortly before the shooting, she received the wonderful

spk_0 news that her daughter's visa was received and that the two would finally be reunited. But sadly,

spk_0 she would never get the chance. That morning, Gloria and her partner, John had gone to Walmart

spk_0 together. But after entering the store, they split up. Gloria headed to the ATM to withdraw some

spk_0 money from the bank while John waited for her at the end store McDonald's. However, seconds later,

spk_0 the gunman entered. Soon after those first shots rang out, John was able to run to safety.

spk_0 Once in the parking lot, he frantically called Gloria over and over again for five whole hours.

spk_0 He kept calling her because he just couldn't bring himself to believe that she had been killed.

spk_0 But with each unanswered call, he knew deep down that she was gone. And eventually, he got

spk_0 word that Gloria had passed away inside. Her niece would later say, quote, Gloria was a dedicated

spk_0 mother, grandmother, and friend. End quote. Now, back inside the Walmart, the horrors were still unfolding.

spk_0 One of the bank tellers at the first convenience bank would later say that she would never be the same

spk_0 after this day. Now, she doesn't want to be identified so we will call her Kim. But Kim was almost

spk_0 nine months pregnant at the time. She remembered that from where she was sitting inside the bank,

spk_0 she could see the cashier is beginning to stir. But then she heard a sound. She said, quote,

spk_0 it sounded like something heavy fell, like something fell hard and fast. We all looked around to

spk_0 see what was going on, but couldn't see anything. Never could I have imagined it was a shooting.

spk_0 End quote. The next thing she heard was a customer's piercing scream. Oh my god, he's shooting.

spk_0 Kim would later say, quote, I remember hiding under the desk where I was sitting. Everybody in

spk_0 the teller line, my coworkers, they all hid under the counters. Suddenly, everybody started running

spk_0 towards my manager's office. End quote. But all of these people soon realized a problem. The manager's

spk_0 office had this huge glass window. If someone wanted in, all they would have to do is shoot through

spk_0 it. So from there, the bank employees decided to go to a nearby vault room, which was much more

spk_0 secure. Kim said, quote, I started crawling. All I could think that this was a bank robbery and

spk_0 that we were being robbed. End quote. Once in the vault room, the six employees were frantic.

spk_0 Right outside the door, they continued to hear the sounds of the massacre, gunshots, the cling of

spk_0 bullet casings, and most horrifically, the screams. Kim said that they weren't just screams of fear

spk_0 and pain. There were also screams of agony from people watching their loved ones die right

spk_0 in front of them. And there was nothing they could do. Inside the vault, Kim later said, quote,

spk_0 we were just holding hands. We were all crying. One of my coworkers was praying. He asked if it was

spk_0 okay that he prayed out loud. One was quietly calling 911. End quote. They were also still worried

spk_0 that the gunmen was coming for them. Kim remembered thinking to herself, quote, I'm dead. I'm going to

spk_0 die. Me and my baby are going to die. End quote. Kim even said she cried a piece of metal off the

spk_0 door and held it right in front of her pregnant belly just in case. She also texted her mom and

spk_0 partner saying, I love you all. But there was something else that haunted Kim. While she and her

spk_0 coworkers were crawling over to the vault room, Kim said she briefly looked over her shoulder.

spk_0 And there she saw a 15 year old boy. Throatiers, Kim later said, quote, the young boy, he was hiding

spk_0 under the desk, but then he ran towards the manager's office. He was banging on the door. End quote.

spk_0 But almost immediately after banging on the door, the 15 year old was shot dead.

spk_0 That boy was Javier Amir Rodriguez. He was there that morning with his uncle, 23 year old Octavio

spk_0 Lazarde. Javier, often called Amir by his friends and family, was born and raised in El Paso.

spk_0 He attended Clint Independent School District School since elementary school and

spk_0 recently finished up his freshman year at Horizon High School. Now Javier's family had just moved

spk_0 to a different part of El Paso, which meant he would have to start his sophomore year at a different

spk_0 school. But everyone was confident that he would adjust well. Javier was a good kid. His middle school

spk_0 teacher, Adrienne Barrios, described him as someone with positive energy who lit up the room

spk_0 with his bright smile and hair flips. His math teacher, Jose Tobias, stated he was energetic,

spk_0 talkative, and smart. He was also a talented soccer player. He played striker for Horizon High

spk_0 School's Scorpions and also played on a local club team. His former coach, Juan Ferreira,

spk_0 stated that Javier often told his teammates, do your best, stay focused, hone your craft and

spk_0 soccer. The president of his soccer club said, I remember Javier like it was yesterday. He was a happy

spk_0 boy always smiling and funny. He was a boy that every coach would like to have on his team.

spk_0 He never missed a practice or a game. He was always the first one on the field and also last one.

spk_0 He just enjoyed playing the sport. And that was true. Javier was known to arrive at school early

spk_0 just so he could play with his friends, who would also skip lunch to practice with the girls team.

spk_0 It was his passion through and through. Now one of Javier's favorite people was his uncle,

spk_0 Octavio. The two were only eight years apart, so for their entire lives, it felt as if they were

spk_0 more like brothers. Octavio would later say that they would often play video games together on

spk_0 the weekends and that Javier was his right or die. On this weekend, in particular, Octavio and Javier

spk_0 planned to spend it together. The night before, they had stayed up late playing video games.

spk_0 And on Saturday, Octavio told Javier that he would take him to get a haircut.

spk_0 With the start of his senior year right around the corner, he wanted him to feel confident.

spk_0 Especially because he was starting at a new school. But before the haircut, Octavio needed to run

spk_0 a few errands. They ended up stopping at the Walmart so Octavio could open a bank account

spk_0 and cash a check. Afterwards, he also planned to buy his nephew some school supplies.

spk_0 But they would never have the chance. Because while the two of them were at the first convenience bank,

spk_0 a gunman entered the Walmart and started shooting people at random. Upon hearing the gunfire,

spk_0 Octavio and Javier knew that they were in danger. But being right there at the front of the store,

spk_0 there was nowhere to go. They quickly ran behind the bank's counter. But after realizing

spk_0 they were still in harm's way, they decided to run towards the manager's office. But to their horror,

spk_0 it was locked. And the gunman was walking in their direction. Octavio would later say that he

spk_0 briefly saw the gunman. And next, he saw the gun. Over the next few moments, bullets flew all around

spk_0 them. When the gunfire stopped, Octavio noticed that he had been shot in the leg. But when he looked

spk_0 over at his nephew, 15-year-old Javier Rodriguez, he immediately knew that he was dead.

spk_0 Sadly, Javier would be the youngest victim of the massacre. Later on, when help finally arrived,

spk_0 Octavio was taken to the hospital. And he would eventually make a recovery. But the emotional scars

spk_0 of losing his nephew would stick with him forever. Here is Octavio at a press conference at the hospital

spk_0 where he was being treated. Clearly, he's still in shock by what happened.

spk_0 He had the chance to kill me, but he didn't. I know because it's got to with me. And

spk_0 they who could go against me. I did lose my nephew right in front of me. I won't put it to details, but

spk_0 it was horrible image. And I hope nobody ever goes through it. I'm in pain. It hurts.

spk_0 But this, this, this, this people in. The only pain I want them to see emotional.

spk_0 With all of the chaos in El Paso that day, Octavio and Javier's loved ones had no idea what

spk_0 had happened to either of them. It wouldn't be until the following morning when they learned of Javier's

spk_0 fate. His aunt Elvira later posted to Facebook, quote, thank you to everyone who helped

spk_0 us search for my nephew. We found him. And quote, she would later write, quote, I just don't get why.

spk_0 I know I'll never have answers. I'm so confused, hurt and mad.

spk_0 May you rest in peace, baby boy. We love you so much. And quote, after multiple surgeries,

spk_0 Octavio was released from the hospital. He said that from there, he was trying to focus on healing.

spk_0 But the physical pain wasn't the only thing holding him back. He also experienced some PTSD.

spk_0 We go, but I don't feel safe. So I'm always looking around and every little sound that

spk_0 all the play drops are something like, I panic. I don't think I'm going to get ever get over it,

spk_0 especially because he was like my son. I did dream that he came into the through that door and

spk_0 he asked me if I wanted to Xbox and I was like, I looked him and I was like, what were you?

spk_0 Octavio would eventually make a post about his cousin that read,

spk_0 I miss you so much, Carnalito. Many things that I do that I see remind me of you.

spk_0 It's very difficult to be without you and needed so much all these months.

spk_0 I don't do much because everything reminds me of you, as I would like to return to the time,

spk_0 to listen to you, to give you a hug, to wish you face to face when I love you how much you

spk_0 mean to me. I only ask God to let me see you once a day, at least in my dreams, I can talk to you

spk_0 my son. No one will ever know how much you really mean to me. I know that you know and made me happy,

spk_0 but I need you, Mesesito, to hear your voice and your jokes, your nonsense that always made me laugh

spk_0 when we played the fights, but if we accidentally hit each other, but we had fun, but leave me.

spk_0 I tried to guide you, give you the best advice, teach you to be responsible and respectful and

spk_0 achieve. I know that sometimes you feel you weren't perfect, but for me, yes, Carnalito, I love you.

spk_0 In another post he wrote,

spk_0 5 long restless sleepless most rough, frustrating, crazy, uncomfortable, most hardest, depressing,

spk_0 etc. months of my life without you, Carnalito. I love you so much it runs through my head,

spk_0 non-stop depression, anxiety, fear of anything I hear or do, not having you has been so hard I

spk_0 can't live my life, thoughts tormenting my mind, but you know what, I always have you in my heart.

spk_0 I hear your voice in my head, but how I would love to hear your voice and hung you here on earth,

spk_0 I'll see you very soon my man, I love you more than anything in this dark, worthless earth.

spk_0 Nothing will ever make me happy unless you were here again. I try to stay positive for you,

spk_0 for grandma, for your mama, but it's hard, but I miss you and hope you are with me wherever I go.

spk_0 If you can, I ask for you to visit me in my dreams so I can talk to you and catch up.

spk_0 Inside the Walmart, security footage captured video of a man inside the bank, hiding behind one of

spk_0 the columns. After shooting at people, the gunman spots the man, walks over to him, and shoots

spk_0 him point blank. Again, we don't know who this victim was, but it was obvious that he passed,

spk_0 and from there the gunman turns around and starts walking towards the cash registers.

spk_0 At that time, people were still trying to run to safety, some who had been shot were playing dead

spk_0 on the ground. Others were hiding throughout the store. Some of these people would later come

spk_0 forward and say that from their hiding positions, they could see the gunman choose,

spk_0 eerily walking around, looking for more victims. They watched as he calisely stepped over dead

spk_0 bodies. Here is one video that was taken from one of these hiding spots.

spk_0 One woman at the checkout line was 86-year-old Maria Angie Silva Englisby. Born on November 3rd,

spk_0 1932 in Santa Fe, Angie was the matriarch of her large family, and it had been that way for decades.

spk_0 After the birth of her seven children, Angie became a widow at just 38 years old when her husband

spk_0 died from a heart attack. But from that moment on, she did everything in her power to give her kids a

spk_0 good life. She even worked three different jobs to support them. One family member said,

spk_0 working numerous jobs at the same time to feed her family, life was hard. Through her hard work,

spk_0 her children all became strong, but extremely caring and compassionate and productive members of

spk_0 our community. As Angie got older and her kids grew up, she was so proud of her large family.

spk_0 By 2019, she had 26 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Her grandson Jacob would later say,

spk_0 she made the very best red beans and rice and red chili pizoli. She always had a hot pot of

spk_0 fresh coffee for her visitors and a quick meal. Angie also loved watching General Hospital on TV,

spk_0 and she loved the Dow's Cowboys. Her son Will worked as a shift manager at a local sports bar,

spk_0 and every night he worked late. Angie would wait for him on the couch. She always wanted to make

spk_0 sure her loved ones were safe. The night before the shooting, Will had returned late, and although he

spk_0 tried to sneak in without waking his mother, she woke up and greeted him. He told her that he lost

spk_0 another pair of sunglasses, something that had become a habit, and the two laughed as she jokingly

spk_0 scolded him. Her family said that Angie was a very honest woman. She never beat around the bush,

spk_0 but at the same time she was very compassionate and also independent. She had a very strict routine

spk_0 that she followed. At 86 years old, she was still driving herself around, even though she had a

spk_0 hard time walking. And every Saturday, she would attend Mass at St. Pius X in El Paso and then

spk_0 head to Walmart for her weekly shopping trip, which is exactly what she was doing that morning.

spk_0 Shortly before the shooting, she was actually on the phone with her son. According to him,

spk_0 he had recently returned from a vacation, and Angie was so excited to hear all about his adventures.

spk_0 Neither of them realized that this would be their very last conversation. Because while Angie was

spk_0 checking out, the government entered the store and began shooting. According to Angie's family,

spk_0 she had bad legs, so she wouldn't have been able to quickly get away. But Angie did try to duck

spk_0 and hide. However, soon enough, the government walked over and shot her. Another family whose

spk_0 lives were changed that day was the family of 63-year-old David Alva Johnson, his wife Kathy,

spk_0 and their granddaughter, nine-year-old Caitlin Rose Melendez. David was born on July 10th, 1956,

spk_0 and he was born and raised in El Paso. After graduating high school in 1975, David spent some time in

spk_0 the army. He also worked as a contractor for Texas Lighting, where everyone said he never took a day off.

spk_0 When David met his wife Kathy, she already had a daughter named Stephanie, but he loved her like

spk_0 his own. And after getting married, they would go on to have three other children, Wayne, Crystal,

spk_0 and Kimberly. David loved his family. He loved to golf, and he was known for his warm personality.

spk_0 His nephew, Dominic, said, he smiled with his eyes and always addressed you with a high-pitched

spk_0 warm welcome. Throughout the years, David enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandchildren.

spk_0 His family said that he often helped them with their homework. Pictures show him tossing his

spk_0 grandkids in the air with the biggest smile or proudly lighting their birthday candles.

spk_0 On the morning of August 3rd, David and his wife Kathy agreed to take their granddaughter,

spk_0 Caitlin, to Walmart to get her a present. Once Caitlin had picked out her toy, they made their

spk_0 way to the front to check out. Moments after the gunmen started his rampage, David's thoughts were

spk_0 with his family. He quickly yelled at them to run, but there was no time. After realizing this,

spk_0 David pushed his wife and granddaughter under the checkout counter as bullets rained in his direction.

spk_0 David ended up taking the brunt of those bullets, dying to protect his family.

spk_0 And while the gunmen continued shooting all around, Kathy and 9-year-old Caitlin had no other

spk_0 choice but to lie there and play dead, as they did, bullets continued to hit David, shielding them

spk_0 even in death. His daughter would later write, as many know, my amazing father pushed my niece and

spk_0 mother out of the way of fire, taking the possible bullets meant for them. Nearby, 24-year-old

spk_0 Andre Pablo Unchando and his wife, 24-year-old Jordan, were shopping in Walmart with their two-month-old

spk_0 son Paul. Jordan was born on November 10th, 1994. She graduated from Franklin High School in 2013.

spk_0 Shortly after, she gave birth to her first daughter, Skylinn, then a few years after that,

spk_0 she had another daughter named Victoria. According to the people who loved her, Jordan was quote,

spk_0 the epitome of love and a selfless mother. End quote. She loved making family dinners,

spk_0 watching her daughters at cheer practice, and playing with her kids at the park. Her sister

spk_0 let us, said, Jordan was quote, someone who would light up your world. End quote. But her life seemed

spk_0 to get even brighter when Andre came into the picture. Andre was also a Franklin High School graduate.

spk_0 His brother Tito said that he always knew his brother would do big things. When they were little,

spk_0 he would buy candy bars and sell them to the kids at school for profit. He was definitely a go-getter.

spk_0 After high school, he even co-owned Color Master Auto Body Shop with his father Gilbert. But after a

spk_0 while, he wanted to build a business of his own. So that's when he created Andre House of

spk_0 Granite in stone, installing granite countertops and renovating kitchens. Now like any business owner,

spk_0 it wasn't easy. His brother Tito said that he had been in a bit of a rut. But all of that would

spk_0 change when he met Jordan. Tito said quote, she was his support system. When he met Jordan,

spk_0 it gave him more reason to get on track with his life. He got his life in order. End quote.

spk_0 In 2018, Andre and Jordan got married. And Andre immediately got to work remodeling their first

spk_0 home. Here is Andre's brother Tito. You can ask anybody that was Andre's friend. He was the kind

spk_0 of soul that you can meet. And Jordan, a beautiful woman, helped my brother through everything that

spk_0 he was having troubles with. Really loved each other so much so that they started building a home

spk_0 for each other. Andre wanted to make sure the home was perfect, especially because they had a baby.

spk_0 Their son Paul was born in May of 2019 and they were over the moon. Their little family of five

spk_0 was everything they had ever wanted. But soon enough, that would all be taken away.

spk_0 August 3, 2019 was supposed to be a beautiful day for the couple. Andre and Jordan had just

spk_0 celebrated their one year anniversary. Later that evening, they were going to have a housewarming

spk_0 party and anniversary celebration with all of their loved ones. So they planned to stop by Walmart

spk_0 later that morning to pick up a few things. Andre's father Gilbert said that he was on his way

spk_0 to work that day when he stopped at a red light in front of their house. Outside, he saw Andre and

spk_0 Jordan along with their three children. He was going to hunk and wave at them, but the light turned

spk_0 green so he didn't. But he figured it was all right because he would see them later that day

spk_0 at the family barbecue. However, that wouldn't be the case. After dropping their daughters off at

spk_0 cheerleading practice, Jordan and Andre decided to run to Walmart. With them that morning,

spk_0 was their two-month-old son Paul. The couple browsed the aisles, picking up food, and some school

spk_0 supplies for their daughters. But after making their way to the front, they would come face to face.

spk_0 With the gunman, Andre was shot in the back and died instantly. As he slumped over, Jordan was

spk_0 terrified. But more than anything she wanted to protect her baby, she was able to shield baby

spk_0 Paul as bullets flew in their direction. Jordan was shot several times. And like many others,

spk_0 she would lose her life. But luckily, her baby survived. When Jordan dropped to the ground,

spk_0 it's believed she landed on her son's hand and broke several of his fingers. But by some miracle,

spk_0 those were his only injuries. Later on, when people in the store began running to safety,

spk_0 a random man saw baby Paul on the ground. He was lying alongside his dead mother and father,

spk_0 crying, soaked in their blood. The man was able to grab him and run to safety.

spk_0 Later that day, when word got out about the shooting, Andre's brother Tito called him over

spk_0 and over again with no answer. Hours later, he got the call that they needed to identify someone

spk_0 at the hospital. It was a sister-in-law, Jordan. But Andre wasn't there. Because of this,

spk_0 they hoped that maybe he was still alive. However, they later got word that he too was one of the

spk_0 thumbs. They were devastated. Two month old Paul lost both of his parents that day. Their daughters

spk_0 lost their mother and stepfather. Andre's family would later post, quote, it's official. He's gone.

spk_0 Pray for him and our family. Pray for that evil man who is sick in his mind. Where angry or sad,

spk_0 there's disbelief. There are just no words. End quote. Later that day, Jordan's cousins

spk_0 and Justin would speak to the media. What little we know, with all the chaos and all the things

spk_0 that have been said is that he was pulled. Baby Paul was pulled from her, still had blood. I would

spk_0 imagine from what we understand. He went into the hospital as... John Doe, baby John Doe. The details

spk_0 are very cloudy, but from what we understand, Baby Paul is recovered from the crime scene with his

spk_0 mother on top of him. And we got word that Andre had jumped in front of his wife to protect his

spk_0 wife and son throughout the whole circumstance. So very devastating. His mother and the son was

spk_0 taken to the hospital, thankfully. But... We lost Jordan yesterday. And Andre as well.

spk_0 They were the light. They were definitely a contribution to this world. They will be missed.

spk_0 Jordan would talk to anybody and everybody. She was every bit of a self-sacrificing mother.

spk_0 And obviously, Andre, an amazing father. She was the light of our life. She was the jokester. She was

spk_0 the contagious laugh. A smile that could light up the room and the world can know that two amazing

spk_0 humans were stripped from us and their babies are left now, parentless. But we want that we will do

spk_0 everything in our power too, as a family, to unite behind them and continue to remind them of the

spk_0 amazing parents that they had. There's not enough words to... I think the ultimate sacrifice

spk_0 of parents can show a lot of this, obviously, shielding your children, which you shouldn't be doing.

spk_0 Yeah. In a Walmart when you're shopping for school supplies.

spk_0 Here's Jordan's sister, Ashley Salazar. You think about the past and you think about...

spk_0 I don't know how to worry about memorial. We think about...

spk_0 We think about the dying and this is really hard because you know, they were good people.

spk_0 And you don't think good people went that bad. Within just three minutes, the gunmen had murdered 23

spk_0 people inside of that Walmart in El Paso, Texas. But just as quickly as he came in, he was gone.

spk_0 When he couldn't find any more victims, he decided to walk out back into the parking lot.

spk_0 There, his victims were still sprawled out on the pavement. Many were receiving aid from bystanders.

spk_0 Upon seeing him, the people in the parking lot were terrified. One woman named Angela Hubbard even played

spk_0 I just kept saying to myself, Hail Mary, full of grace, over and over.

spk_0 Then I see Patrick Kruseus coming out of the middle exit.

spk_0 I say to myself, oh God, I see the shooter. He's coming out of the Walmart.

spk_0 He was walking out of the middle entrance exit door with an AK style rifle pointed straight up.

spk_0 My heart sank because I thought, that's it. My life is over.

spk_0 I'm going to be murdered and I can't escape.

spk_0 Patrick Kruseus was walking with speed, confidence and determination.

spk_0 As he walked out of the Walmart that morning, I saw you. He didn't look scared or nervous to me.

spk_0 Patrick Kruseus, I fooled you. I tricked you. I was alive playing dead.

spk_0 I could have been your 24th victim. You could have shot and murdered me.

spk_0 There I was on the ground playing dead and praying.

spk_0 I'm one of the survivors that got away.

spk_0 I hope the thought that I survived upsets you. I survived. I'm here.

spk_0 But sadly, the gunman would take the life of one more victim. As he was walking out of Walmart,

spk_0 he lifted his gun once more and fired at a passing vehicle.

spk_0 77-year-old Juan de Dios Velasquez was born in Zacateca, Mexico.

spk_0 But he and his wife Estela eventually moved to Ciudadon, Juarez. Together, the couple would go on

spk_0 to have six children. And from there, 15 grandchildren. They spent the majority of their lives in Mexico.

spk_0 But as Juan grew older, he had dreams of retiring somewhere safer than his hometown.

spk_0 So eventually, he and his wife Estela decided to settle down in El Paso.

spk_0 It was the perfect location for them as they would still be close to their friends and family in

spk_0 Mexico. Juan and Estela had just made the move about six months prior and they were loving it.

spk_0 Every Saturday, they would go to the Walmart in town to buy groceries for the week.

spk_0 It was a part of their routine. But this Saturday would end much differently than the others.

spk_0 Juan had just pulled into the parking lot that morning with his wife Estela in the passenger seat.

spk_0 It's unclear if they heard those first shots ring out. But as they drove past, the gunman spotted

spk_0 them and he quickly lifted his gun and he fired. Juan quickly turned towards his wife,

spk_0 using his body to shield her as bullets came flying towards them. When the gunfire stopped,

spk_0 they had both been shot. Juan had a gunshot wound to his back and Estela was shot in the stomach.

spk_0 Over the next few minutes, the couple would bleed from their wounds, waiting for help to arrive.

spk_0 And during that time, they decided to call the people they love most in the world, their children.

spk_0 While speaking on the phone with their daughter, they cried, telling her that they had been shot

spk_0 and that it hurt. But all she could do in that moment was tell them to stay calm and breathe.

spk_0 Sadly, this would be the very last conversation she would ever have with her father.

spk_0 By the time paramedics arrived, Juan was still alive. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he

spk_0 was shot later on Monday, August 5. His wife Estela would luckily make a full recovery.

spk_0 Now after walking out of the store, it seemed as if the gunman was no longer focused on killing.

spk_0 Instead, he was focused on getting away. He quickly ran to his vehicle and peeled out of the

spk_0 parking lot. The police ended up arriving at the Walmart six minutes after the shooting started.

spk_0 But by that point, the gunman was already gone. While a group of officers went to find him,

spk_0 another group went inside the Walmart to assess the damage. And it was way worse than anyone

spk_0 expected. Out in the parking lot, were several victims already deceased.

spk_0 Their blood and brain matter staining the earth beneath them.

spk_0 The officers then walked through the automatic doors leading into Walmart.

spk_0 The air was still thick with the ominous cloud of gun smoke.

spk_0 There were shoes on the ground, bullet casings, cell phones, groceries, carts scattered

spk_0 throughout the aisles. And of course, lots and lots of blood. But most notable of all were the

spk_0 dozens of bodies. Every few feet there was a body, sometimes multiple piled up alongside each other.

spk_0 A lot of the victims were older people. Most of them were Hispanic. And sadly,

spk_0 there were also living relatives of those victims. Weeping as they held their deceased loved one.

spk_0 Many of those survivors had injuries of their own. When the police announced their presence within

spk_0 the store, survivors slowly started coming out of their hiding spots. But even with the officers

spk_0 there, these people had looked a fear on their faces. And seeing the carnage all around them

spk_0 only made it worse. Back inside the vault room within the bank, six employees were still hiding,

spk_0 including that woman Kim that we mentioned earlier. Kim was on the phone with her partner Alex

spk_0 at the time. She didn't know that the shooter left the building, and she was in the middle of

spk_0 telling him her goodbyes. But then she heard the sound of police outside the door. Upon opening

spk_0 that door, the officers immediately warned the workers that they might want to close their eyes,

spk_0 as the scene outside was horrific. But Kim kept them open. As she made her way out, she saw a

spk_0 body on the floor in a pool of blood. It was 15-year-old Javier. His uncle Octavio was standing over him,

spk_0 screaming in agony. Just beyond that, Kim saw the Enchando family who we just mentioned.

spk_0 She would later say that she remembered seeing them shortly before the shots ring out.

spk_0 She recalled looking at baby Paul and his little carrier. At the time, Kim thought to herself that

spk_0 they seemed to have a lot in common. She and Jordan were both young moms who were working to give

spk_0 their kids a good life. Except now, as she walked out of the vault room, Kim saw that Jordan was dead,

spk_0 as was her husband lying next to her. Two parents wiped out in an instant. Now, Kim would end up

spk_0 giving birth to her baby two weeks after this. But things were hard. She said that after giving birth,

spk_0 she couldn't even look at those baby chest carriers. All she could think of when she saw them

spk_0 was Jordan, who was wearing one that day. And according to Kim, the trauma from this massacre

spk_0 was so severe she believes it had an effect on her baby in utero. She said that after his birth,

spk_0 her son was easily frightened. He suffered from night terrors and long uncontrollable crying

spk_0 spells. Doctors have since told Kim that her baby symptoms are likely from the unbelievable

spk_0 amount of trauma she faced that day. Kim later said of her son, quote, he was also a victim,

spk_0 and he's still suffering. He's going to carry this forever too. Soon enough, the dozens of people

spk_0 who were injured in the attack were removed from the building and brought to the hospital for treatment.

spk_0 Some of those victims would go on to lose their lives. But of the people who were left inside the

spk_0 Walmart, they were dead on arrival. Like any mass shooting, authorities went to work immediately

spk_0 identifying those victims. Meanwhile, the entire world was learning about the horrific mass shooting

spk_0 and El Paso, Texas. And like with any mass shooting, our hearts were broken. The world felt

spk_0 incredibly heavy. It's impossible to wrap your head around these tragedies. How can someone walk

spk_0 into a room and do something like that? How can you look at these innocent people in the face?

spk_0 See the fear in their eyes and decide to violently take their life? You know, and a lot of our

spk_0 mass shooting episodes, I say that the killer indiscriminately shot at people in the room.

spk_0 Because in a lot of those cases, they don't care who their victims are. They don't care if they're

spk_0 old or young, if they're wealthy or poor, or if they have children and families who love them.

spk_0 They simply want to kill as many people as possible to top the last mass shooter. But that is not

spk_0 the case for today's story. While this shooter did want to maximize casualties, he was not shooting

spk_0 indiscriminately. In fact, he was there that day, and the city of El Paso, strictly because he

spk_0 wanted to kill Hispanics. As the facts of this case spread around the country, many people were

spk_0 horrified to know that this wasn't a random act of violence. It was a hate crime.

spk_0 So join us next week for the final part of this series. In it, we will talk about the shooters

spk_0 arrests, the survivors, the community, the national response, and finally, the trial.

spk_0 For today's episode, we will be making a donation to the El Paso Victims Relief Fund,

spk_0 who support victims and survivors that were directly impacted by the August 3rd mass shooting.

spk_0 Hey, everybody. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of Murder in America.

spk_0 I know that this was an incredibly hard episode to get through, and a really sad episode.

spk_0 These stories do not get any less horrific than the more that we cover them.

spk_0 Courtney and I can advocate for change all that we can hear on the podcast. But it's just a sad

spk_0 reality of living in America that until something changes, these things will just continue to happen.

spk_0 If you like what we do here and you support the work that we do here on Murder in America,

spk_0 please consider joining us on Patreon. On Patreon, you can get early ad free access to episodes

spk_0 of our show. So if you don't like the ads, consider joining us on Patreon. And for some of the

spk_0 higher tiers, you can get access to bonus episodes that are posted every month. We already have over

spk_0 120, 125. I don't even know how many exactly bonus episodes of the show on our Patreon. So

spk_0 if you've never signed up and you sign up today, you could immediately get access to all of those

spk_0 episodes. If you want to see photos from the cases that we cover here on the show, please follow us

spk_0 on Instagram at Murder in America. And as always, please leave us a five star review on Apple

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spk_0 help us so much. Anyways, y'all, thank you for joining us today. We appreciate it so much. We will

spk_0 see you next week for part three. And I'll catch y'all on the next one.

EP. 218 - TEXAS: The El Paso Walmart Shooting (Pt. 2)

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