Murder in America – EP. 218: TEXAS: The El Paso Walmart Shooting (Pt. 2)

Hosts: Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen
Release Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Murder in America is the second part of a deep-dive series on the 2019 El Paso Walmart mass shooting. The hosts, Courtney and Colin, take listeners through a harrowing, minute-by-minute recounting of the victims' lives, the events as they unfolded on the day of the attack, and the immediate aftermath. The episode centers on humanizing the victims and survivors, giving detailed backgrounds, and sharing powerful audio clips and firsthand accounts. The hosts stress that this was a hate crime, not a random act of violence, and highlight the lasting trauma for survivors and the El Paso community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The El Paso Community and Context

• El Paso is celebrated as a vibrant city with deep Mexican-American heritage, with about 80% of residents being Hispanic ([04:24]).
• The hosts underscore El Paso’s culture and inclusiveness, noting this diversity made the city a target for the shooter, motivated by hatred towards immigrants ([05:11]).

2. Chronology of the Attack and Victim Stories

Early Morning at Walmart

• The day begins as a routine Saturday, with families shopping, children buying school supplies, and a youth soccer team fundraising outside ([01:51]).

Victims in the Parking Lot

• Maria Eugenia Lagareta Roth: Killed while exiting Walmart, described as a dedicated mother, shielded her daughter for as long as she could ([06:26]).
• Alexander Hoffman: German-born veteran and engineer, valued tolerance and teaching history’s lessons about hate, killed while shopping for tools ([09:02]).

Soccer Team Fundraiser Attack

• The El Paso Fusion Soccer Club, comprised largely of Hispanic girls (ages 9-11), becomes a direct target outside the store.
  • Jorge Calavillo Garcia: Grandfather, killed while shielding his granddaughter, praised as a "beautiful human being" ([11:56]).
  • Memo Garcia ("Tank"): Coach and father, shot while protecting his family; passed away after nine months in ICU and 50+ surgeries ([16:14]).
  • Luis Calvio: Head coach, shot by the gunman, tried to protect the kids ([11:24]).
  • Maribel Latine: Parent, survived by pretending to be dead:

    "He was right next to me and he shot eight more rounds... All I could say is, God, please take care of my children and please don't let him do anything to my daughter or any of the girls in our team." – Maribel Latine ([17:58])

  • All of the young girls survived, thanks to fast action by adults and an employee who helped them hide ([19:26]).

Inside the Store

• Store manager issues "code brown" and tries to evacuate ([21:47]).
• Christopher Grant: Attempts to distract gunman by throwing bottles, survives a gunshot wound thanks to a federal agent’s quick thinking ([22:40], [23:28]).
• Teresa Sanchez: 82, killed while shopping with her sister and niece ([24:07]).
• Luis Alfonso Juarez: 90, the oldest victim; described as the embodiment of kindness, killed in front of his wife ([25:35]).
• Elsa Mendoza de la Mora: Teacher and principal, killed while shopping; her husband Antonio survives and pays tribute to her ([28:44]).
• Margie K. Record: Found love and happiness later in life; husband’s grief shared ([30:38]).
• Leonardo Campos Jr. & Maribel Hernandez Loya: Couple killed in the aisles; their absence discovered when they didn’t pick up their pet ([34:45]).
• Ivan Filiberto Manzano: Crossed the border to shop for business supplies, killed days after his 41st birthday ([40:28]).
• Sarah Esther Regaldo Morial & Adolfo Ceros Hernandez: Married couple from Mexico, killed while shopping ([43:18]).
• Maria & Raul Flores: Couple married 60 years, beloved for their close relationship, died together in the store ([44:51]).
• Arturo Benavides: Army veteran, revered city bus driver; wife Patty survives by chance ([48:29]).

Further Inside

• Untold stories of nameless victims captured on security footage ([52:01]).

• The gunman continues through the store, even opening fire in the in-store bank:

  "People were praying in Spanish... ‘Por favor, no, no.’ And he still just shot them in the head... he had no remorse for their lives at all." – Christopher Grant ([53:11])

• Gloria Irma Marquez: Mother, grandmother, described as loving and protective; never reunited with her daughter as planned ([53:44]).

Teen Victim Highlight

• Javier Amir Rodriguez: 15, talented soccer player, killed alongside his uncle as they attempted to flee ([59:22] – [63:21]).
• Surviving uncle, Octavio, shares emotional aftermath:

  "I did lose my nephew right in front of me... I won’t put the details, but it was a horrible image and I hope nobody ever goes through it." – Octavio Lazarde ([63:21])
  "Every little sound, a plate drops or something, I panic. I don’t think I’m ever going to get over it." – Octavio ([64:51])

Other Families Destroyed

• Maria Angie Silva Englesby: Family matriarch, 86, killed at the checkout ([68:18]).
• David Alva Johnson: Died shielding his wife and granddaughter from bullets ([68:18]).
• Andre and Jordan Anchondo: New parents, killed protecting their 2-month-old. Baby Paul found alive, covered in his parents’ blood ([72:53] – [79:11]).
• Family’s reaction to their deaths:

  "I think the ultimate sacrifice a parent can show is love... shielding your children, which you shouldn’t be doing in a Walmart when you’re shopping for school supplies." – Jordan’s cousin ([80:09])

Final Victims

• Juan de Dios Velasquez: Killed as the shooter left the store; died shielding his wife in their car. Their last conversation with their daughter occurred as they bled, awaiting help ([82:59]).

3. Aftermath and Trauma

• Graphic descriptions of the crime scene by police: blood, bodies, and survivors in shock ([83:57]).
• Surviving employees, such as "Kim," describe hiding in the bank’s vault, texting loved ones possible goodbyes, and witnessing the death of a 15-year-old boy ([53:44], [84:21]).
• Lasting trauma for survivors, including children and infants present during the massacre:

  "She said that after giving birth, she couldn’t even look at those baby chest carriers. All she could think of... was Jordan, who was wearing one that day." ([86:08])

4. Motivation of the Shooter and Classification as a Hate Crime

• The hosts emphasize the targeted nature of the shooting, specifically against the Hispanic community:

  "He was there that day in the city of El Paso strictly because he wanted to kill Hispanics... This was a hate crime, not a random act of violence." – Courtney ([89:43], [90:58])

5. Closing and Next Episode Tease

• The aftermath (arrest, trial, and community response) will be addressed in part three.
• Hosts announce a donation to the El Paso Victims Relief Fund and encourage listeners to take action, spread awareness, and support survivors ([90:58]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Acts of Heroism:

  "Jorge courageously shielded his granddaughter and her teammates from the bullets. In the process, he would be shot... but tragically, Jorge would lose his life protecting the young girls." ([11:24])

• Survival and Trauma:

  "I had to pretend I was dead... He was the calmest person ever... just plain hatred and just anger." – Maribel Latine ([17:58])

• Complete Chaos:

  "Screams of ‘run, shooter, tyros, vamonos!’ could be heard throughout the store." ([21:47])

• Emotional Impact and Loss:

  "[He] died shielding his wife and granddaughter, taking the brunt of the bullets... Even in death, he protected them." ([68:18])

• On Hate-Motivated Violence:

  “How can someone walk into a room and do something like that? …This was not a random act of violence. It was a hate crime.” – Courtney ([89:43])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:51]: Opening—a snapshot of the morning at Walmart; shooter begins attack.
• [06:26]: Maria Eugenia Lagareta Roth becomes first victim.
• [09:02]: Story of Alexander Hoffman and his warnings about hate.
• [11:56]: Soccer team fundraiser targeted; Jorge Calavillo Garcia’s final act.
• [16:14]: Memo Garcia’s injuries and grim outcome.
• [17:58]: Maribel Latine’s survival story.
• [19:54]: Teacher Adria Gonzalez’s rescue efforts.
• [22:40]: Christopher Grant tries to stop the shooter, is shot, survives.
• [24:07 – 28:44]: Rapid stories of Teresa Sanchez, Elsa Mendoza, Luis Juarez, and others.
• [30:38]: Margie K. Record and other victims’ tributes.
• [39:17]: Army officer Alden Hall’s eyewitness account.
• [53:11]: Horror in the in-store bank, people pleading for their lives.
• [59:22 – 64:38]: Javier Rodriguez, the youngest victim, and his uncle’s trauma.
• [68:18]: Maria Angie Silva Englesby and David Johnson’s story.
• [72:53 – 79:11]: The Anchondo family and baby Paul’s miraculous survival.
• [80:58]: Survivor Angela Hubbard plays dead in the parking lot as shooter exits.
• [83:57]: Juan de Dios Velasquez, the final victim.
• [86:08]: Aftermath – police, survivors, and the trauma left behind.
• [90:58]: Episode wrap-up, hate crime emphasis, and next episode preview.

Tone and Language

The episode uses a solemn, respectful tone with moments of raw and heartbreaking testimony from survivors and family members. Audio clips from survivors, family, and the hosts keep the focus on dignity for victims and the impact on the living.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a powerful, painstaking account of the El Paso Walmart shooting, told through dozens of victim stories and survivor testimonials. The hosts give voice to the human cost, highlight acts of courage amidst horror, and frame the massacre as a hate crime targeted at the Hispanic community. The episode serves as both remembrance and call to action—reminding listeners of the reality and ongoing trauma of gun violence and bigotry in America. The next installment will detail the shooter's capture, legal proceedings, and the community’s path to healing.