Mexican government helping its citizens file lawsuits against Walmart over racial shootings

Thursday, November 21st 2019 - 09:45 UTC

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“The objective of these suits, presented in El Paso county, is to hold the company responsible for not taking reasonable and necessary measures to protect its clients from the attack,” the foreign min

Eight Mexicans were killed in the Aug 3 attack in El Paso, a city on the US-Mexican border where 83% of the population is Latino.

Mexico's government said on Wednesday it has helped 10 Mexican citizens file lawsuits against Walmart over an August shooting at a store in El Paso, Texas, where a suspected white nationalist killed 22 people.

“The objective of these suits, presented in El Paso county, is to hold the company responsible for not taking reasonable and necessary measures to protect its clients from the attack,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“The plaintiffs are seeking not only justice for themselves, but security for the general public.”

Eight Mexicans were killed in the Aug 3 attack in El Paso, a city on the US-Mexican border where 83 per cent of the population is Latino.

The alleged shooter, Patrick Wood Crusius, 21, reportedly told police he was trying to kill as many Mexicans as possible.

He posted a manifesto online before the attack denouncing a “Hispanic invasion” of Texas.

Crusius pleaded not guilty last month. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

Mexico has condemned the shooting as a “terrorist attack.”

Walmart said in September it would stop selling ammunition for handguns and some military-style rifles at its stores, calling the status quo on firearms in the United States “unacceptable.” It also said it would bar customers from carrying firearms in its stores.

A new shooting in an Oklahoma Walmart left three people dead on Monday, including the suspected gunmen. Another Walmart shooting in July killed two employees.