Walmart shooting suspect faces hate crime charges: AP source

A multicount federal indictment against suspected gunman Patrick Crusius of Allen, Texas, was expected to be announced later Thursday at a news conference in El Paso, according to this person, who had direct knowledge of the case but was not authorized to disclose details of the indictment before the public announcement and spoke to on condition of anonymity.

A manifesto attributed to the suspect in the Aug. 3 shooting, during a busy back-to-school shopping day, said the attack was aimed at scaring Hispanics into leaving the United States.

Eight Mexican nationals were among the victims of the attack at a Walmart store popular with shoppers who live in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, which is across the border from El Paso.

Crusius pleaded not guilty to state capital murder charges last year.

The indictment comes as El Paso marks the six month anniversary of the massacre. Last weekend, the commuter town of San Elizario planted 22 oak trees in honor of the victims. Local news outlets aired remembrances.

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