Dallas Man Pleads Guilty to Hate Crime Charges for Shooting at Muslim-Owned Business
Anthony Paz Torres, 38, pleaded guilty to five federal hate crime counts for killing one individual and attempting to kill four others during a shooting at Omar’s Wheels and Tires in Dallas, Texas, on Dec. 24, 2015.
According to court documents, Torres' shooting came a few days after he went to shop and made anti-Muslim statements. He vowed to come back and then left. A few days later, he returned and asked customers if they were Muslim. He then opened fire on the customers and employees in the shop, killing one person and injuring four others.
He faces up to 37 years in prison, with credit for time served.
US Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas said that Torres targeted the business because of religion and that his actions resulted in the death of an innocent person and injuries to others. She said that religious hatred, including anti-Muslim bigotry, has no place in America and that perpetrators will be held accountable, according to a statement by the US Justice Department.
Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Dallas Field Office said that hate crimes are not only an attack on the victim, but also a threat to the whole community. He said that Torres' shooting spree was motivated by his bigoted views and that he caused physical and emotional harm to everyone present that day.
Torres' sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 24, 2024.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Texas chapter welcomed the guilty plea and hoped for a sentence that would deter others from committing similar crimes.
Source: Agencies
