Widow of Army veteran killed in El Paso shooting joins lawsuit against Walmart

Patricia Benavides, whose husband, Arturo, was killed in the Aug. 3 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, is joining a lawsuit against Walmart with other families who lost loved ones.

Benavides joined the civil lawsuit against Walmart and the shooting suspect Friday morning. The case is in El Paso County's 448th Judicial District with Judge Sergio Enriquez presiding.

She is seeking all damages permitted under Texas law, according to court documents. Her husband was one of 22 people killed in the shooting; 25 others were wounded.

She is represented by Randall Sorrels of the Houston-based Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz law firm.

“Plaintiff Intervenor Patricia Benavides has unfortunately experienced mental anguish, meaning emotional pain, torment, and suffering caused by the death of her husband, Arturo Benavides,” the lawsuit states. “This pecuniary loss, loss of companionship and society, and mental anguish, in reasonable probability, will be sustained in the future.”

Benavides is joining the families of Maribel Hernandez Loya and Leonardo Campos, who also were killed in the attack. The two were married and living in El Paso.

Aurora Bonilla Hernandez, the mother of Marbiel Loya and Ilda Campos, the mother of Leonardo Campos, are also suing.

Jessica and Guillermo Garcias, who were both severely injured in the mass shooting, filed the lawsuit against Walmart on Aug. 30 in the court.

Their lawsuit is not seeking monetary compensation but is demanding answers as to why Walmart did not have armed security or measures in place to prevent the shooting.

Representatives for the Garcias were allowed into the store at the end of September to investigate the scene of the massacre.

Walmart filed a cross claim that the loss of life and harm from the mass shooting was solely caused by suspect, Patrick Crusius, and that he alone “carried out a campaign of violence and murder.”

“We will never forget this tragic event, and our condolences continue to go out to the everyone who was affected,” Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove said. “Safety is a top priority and we care deeply about our associates and customers. We will respond as appropriate with the court.”

The El Paso City Council unanimously voted to name an East Side Sun Metro transfer center after Arturo Benavides on Oct. 15. The East Side Sun Metro Transit Center at 1165 Sunmount Drive is just behind the Cielo Vista-area Walmart where the shooting occurred.

The center now will be called the Arturo “Tury” Benavides East Side Transfer Center. Patricia Benavides accepted a plaque commemorating the renaming of the center during the council meeting.

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©2019 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.