Rather than hold a grudge, she informed him of her forgiveness and expressed a desire to hug him.
In an unexpected decision in an El Paso courtroom, the judge granted her that opportunity.
Following the shooting, she now relies on a cane for mobility and wears a brace to prevent her left foot from dragging.
“It left me sad, bitter,” said the 41-year-old mother.
She also granted Crusius forgiveness.
‘You brought us together’
Javier Rodriguez was 15 and starting his sophomore year in high school when he was shot and killed at a bank in Walmart.
On Tuesday, his father Francisco Rodriguez shouted at Crusius: “Look at me, I’m talking to you.”
$200 billion lost in three minutes over something that didn’t happen
He told Crusius that he and his family have to go to the cemetery to commemorate his son’s birthday.
“I wish I could just get five minutes with you — me and you — and get all of this, get it over with,” he said.
But Rodriguez also referred to comments made about Crusius’ impact on El Paso during his sentencing.
“Like the judge said yesterday, you came down to El Paso with the intention of tearing us apart, but all you did, you brought us together,” he said.
