This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/08/gun-used-to-kill-woman-on-san-francisco-pier-belonged-to-federal-agent

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Gun used to kill woman on San Francisco pier belonged to federal agent Gun used to kill woman on San Francisco pier belonged to federal agent
(about 5 hours later)
The gun used in the seemingly random slaying of a woman on a San Francisco pier belonged to a federal agent, a law enforcement official briefed on the matter said Tuesday. The gun used in the seemingly random slaying of a woman on a San Francisco pier belonged to a federal agent, a law enforcement official briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.
The official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity, said a police check of the weapon’s serial number shows it belonged to a federal agent. The official declined to elaborate further.The official, who was not authorised to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity, said a police check of the weapon’s serial number shows it belonged to a federal agent. The official declined to elaborate further.
The San Francisco Police Department, which is investigating the case, declined to comment. The San Francisco police department, which is investigating the case, declined to comment.
The revelation was the latest dramatic twist in a tragic case that has become a new flashpoint in the country’s debate over immigration policies.The revelation was the latest dramatic twist in a tragic case that has become a new flashpoint in the country’s debate over immigration policies.
The alleged gunman, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, has been deported to his native Mexico five times and was suspected of living in the United States illegally, when Kathryn Steinle, 32, was gunned down last week while on an evening stroll with her father along San Francisco’s waterfront area.The alleged gunman, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, has been deported to his native Mexico five times and was suspected of living in the United States illegally, when Kathryn Steinle, 32, was gunned down last week while on an evening stroll with her father along San Francisco’s waterfront area.
Federal officials transferred Sanchez to San Francisco’s jail in March to face a 20-year-old marijuana charge after Sanchez completed his latest prison term for illegally entering the country.Federal officials transferred Sanchez to San Francisco’s jail in March to face a 20-year-old marijuana charge after Sanchez completed his latest prison term for illegally entering the country.
The San Francisco sheriff, citing the city’s “sanctuary city” policy, released Sanchez in April after prosecutors dropped the drug charge, despite an immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) request to hold him for federal authorities so deportation proceedings could begin.The San Francisco sheriff, citing the city’s “sanctuary city” policy, released Sanchez in April after prosecutors dropped the drug charge, despite an immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) request to hold him for federal authorities so deportation proceedings could begin.
Sanchez told two television stations who interviewed him in jail that he found the gun used in Steinle’s killing wrapped in a shirt on the pedestrian pier she was walking on. Sanchez said the gun went off in his hands, and his attorney, Matt Gonzalez, said Tuesday that the San Francisco woman’s death appeared accidental. Sanchez told two television stations who interviewed him in jail that he found the gun used in Steinle’s killing wrapped in a shirt on the pedestrian pier she was walking on. Sanchez said the gun went off in his hands, and his attorney, Matt Gonzalez, said on Tuesday that the San Francisco woman’s death appeared accidental.
Sanchez pleaded not guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder in last week’s shootingSanchez pleaded not guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder in last week’s shooting
Regardless of the reason behind Steinle’s death, the shooting has touched off criticism from leading Republican lawmakers – and, unexpectedly, from top Democrats, including both of California’s US senators.Regardless of the reason behind Steinle’s death, the shooting has touched off criticism from leading Republican lawmakers – and, unexpectedly, from top Democrats, including both of California’s US senators.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton told CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody.
“The city made a mistake not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported,” Clinton said. “So I have absolutely no support for a city that ignores strong evidence that should be acted on.”“The city made a mistake not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported,” Clinton said. “So I have absolutely no support for a city that ignores strong evidence that should be acted on.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein called on San Francisco mayor Ed Lee to start cooperating with federal immigration officials who want to deport felons such as Sanchez. Feinstein served as San Francisco mayor from 1978 to 1988.Senator Dianne Feinstein called on San Francisco mayor Ed Lee to start cooperating with federal immigration officials who want to deport felons such as Sanchez. Feinstein served as San Francisco mayor from 1978 to 1988.
“I strongly believe that an undocumented individual, convicted of multiple felonies and with a detainer request from ICE, should not have been released,” Feinstein said. “We should focus on deporting convicted criminals, not setting them loose on our streets.”“I strongly believe that an undocumented individual, convicted of multiple felonies and with a detainer request from ICE, should not have been released,” Feinstein said. “We should focus on deporting convicted criminals, not setting them loose on our streets.”
The San Francisco mayor’s office said it has reached out to Homeland Security officials to determine if there’s a way to cooperate while still upholding the city’s sanctuary policy.The San Francisco mayor’s office said it has reached out to Homeland Security officials to determine if there’s a way to cooperate while still upholding the city’s sanctuary policy.
Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, also from northern California, said she asked Governor Jerry Brown if state law was followed in Sanchez’s release.Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, also from northern California, said she asked Governor Jerry Brown if state law was followed in Sanchez’s release.
San Francisco sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has defended Sanchez’s release and the city law requiring it to ignore ICE detainer requests. The sheriff said ICE could have obtained a warrant or court order to keep Sanchez in custody.San Francisco sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has defended Sanchez’s release and the city law requiring it to ignore ICE detainer requests. The sheriff said ICE could have obtained a warrant or court order to keep Sanchez in custody.
“ICE knew where he was,” Mirkarimi said Monday. He said he will continue to ignore ICE detainer requests.“ICE knew where he was,” Mirkarimi said Monday. He said he will continue to ignore ICE detainer requests.
State and federal Republicans, meanwhile, said they would look into the matter.State and federal Republicans, meanwhile, said they would look into the matter.
Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson, who chairs the Senate’s homeland security committee, criticised federal officials and demanded to know why Sanchez was not deported.Wisconsin senator Ron Johnson, who chairs the Senate’s homeland security committee, criticised federal officials and demanded to know why Sanchez was not deported.
“Does that make any sense to you?” Johnson demanded to know at a hearing Tuesday. “Because I’ll tell you, it doesn’t make any sense to the American public.”“Does that make any sense to you?” Johnson demanded to know at a hearing Tuesday. “Because I’ll tell you, it doesn’t make any sense to the American public.”
Republican state senator Jeff Stone said he would introduce legislation in Sacramento to require cities to comply with ICE detainer requests.Republican state senator Jeff Stone said he would introduce legislation in Sacramento to require cities to comply with ICE detainer requests.
At Sanchez’s arraignment Tuesday, prosecutor Dianna Garcia argued against releasing Sanchez on bail, saying, “This was an act of random violence, shooting an innocent victim in the back.”At Sanchez’s arraignment Tuesday, prosecutor Dianna Garcia argued against releasing Sanchez on bail, saying, “This was an act of random violence, shooting an innocent victim in the back.”
The judge set bail at $5m, which Gonzalez said would keep Sanchez jailed pending trial.The judge set bail at $5m, which Gonzalez said would keep Sanchez jailed pending trial.
A downcast Sanchez spent most of the hearing with his head bowed, appearing to fight back tears while the judge explained the charge to him. Sanchez was aided by a Spanish-language interpreter and entered his plea in Spanish.A downcast Sanchez spent most of the hearing with his head bowed, appearing to fight back tears while the judge explained the charge to him. Sanchez was aided by a Spanish-language interpreter and entered his plea in Spanish.
Outside court, his attorney said Sanchez had a second-grade education and a non-violent criminal record.Outside court, his attorney said Sanchez had a second-grade education and a non-violent criminal record.
He could face life in prison if convicted.He could face life in prison if convicted.