Back in July, the conservative media shined its spotlight on the controversial issue of “sanctuary cities” following the shooting death of Kate Steinle in San Francisco. This happened because perennial criminal and five-time deportee Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who had no business in this country, much less on the pier where Kate died, pointed a gun and pulled the trigger.
He sought refuge underneath San Fran’s “sanctuary” umbrella, and Kate Steinle paid the price.
It was an inconvenient narrative for the Obama Administration, and an even more inconvenient scoop for reporters reluctant to address the issue of illegal immigration during an election cycle. Kate was laid to rest with little fanfare, but her family has taken up her cause, and is planning a lawsuit against San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and The Bureau of Land Management.
Since the death of their daughter, Jim Steinle and Liz Sullivan have become activists demanding justice for their daughter. “Everyone can’t keep saying this is the way it is — it isn’t the way it has to be. We have to stand up and say we’re mad as hell we’re not going to take it anymore,” Sullivan said.Both want to make sure what happened to their daughter doesn’t end up happening to someone else. “Somebody has to stand up and unfortunately it took the death of my daughter to become activists,” Steinle said.Mirkarimi faced intense criticism in the wake of the shooting because his department had custody of the man charged with the murder of the young woman at the pier and let him go in April without notifying ICE.On Monday, Mirkarimi’s office released a statement, saying that while the sheriff can’t comment on potential litigation, “he continues to extend his deepest sympathy to the Steinle family for their loss.”
Watch the news report and Steinle family interview, from NBC Bay Area:
In the mean time, prosecutors are working to hold Lopez-Sanchez accountable for his actions. A ballistics expert has come forward with a report suggesting that the bullet that killed Kate was fired accidentally, but the State is still fighting for a ruling that would allow them to hold Lopez-Sanchez for a murder trial:
Prosecutor Diane Garcia contends that the shot was intentional. Her firearms expert, inspector John Evans, and Norris agree a divot in the mangled bullet taken from Steinle show a ricochet occurred. Evans said in court Wednesday that it was possible the gunman was aiming at Steinle.Garcia hammered that point at Norris on Thursday, asking him if it were possible Lopez-Sanchez intended to shoot Steinle and the bullet hit the ground “because he was a lousy shot.”Lopez-Sanchez admitted firing the gun, a police sergeant testified earlier in the week.
We’ll keep you updated as the case progresses.
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