A Dallas man, Anthony Paz Torres, has been sentenced to 37 years in prison for hate crimes committed during a fatal shooting at a car repair shop targeting Muslims. Torres pleaded guilty to five federal hate crime counts for the killing and attempted killing of individuals at Omar’s Wheels and Tires in Dallas in 2015.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the seriousness of hate crimes, stating, “As this sentence makes clear, hate crimes fueled by Islamophobia, or by bias of any kind, will be met with the full force of the Justice Department.”
FBI Director Christopher Wray described the case as "an abhorrent example of how deadly Islamophobia can be in our own country," highlighting the severe consequences for those who commit acts of hateful violence.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division stressed the importance of holding perpetrators of hate crimes accountable, saying, “The sentence handed down today ensures that Torres will be held accountable for the hate-fueled, Islamophobic violence he inflicted on the victims in this case.”
U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas reiterated that individuals should not fear violence based on their religion, emphasizing the commitment to protecting all members of the community from acts of hatred towards any religious group.
Torres admitted to targeting the Muslim-owned business, making anti-Muslim comments, and ultimately killing one person and attempting to kill four others due to his belief that they were Muslim.
The FBI Dallas Field Office, along with the Dallas Police Department and Dallas Criminal District Attorney’s Office, investigated the case.
Prosecutors Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicole Dana and Rebekah J. Bailey, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Gilstrap, ensured that Torres was held accountable for his actions.
The Department of Justice encourages individuals to visit www.justice.gov/hatecrimes for more information and resources on combating hate crimes.