Calif. Appeals Court Throws Out Firearms Conviction of Steinle Killer

Calif. Appeals Court Throws Out Firearms Conviction of Steinle Killer
Liz Sullivan and Jim Steinle, the parents of Kate Steinle who was killed by an undocumented immigrant, speak during a news conference in San Francisco on Sept. 1, 2015. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Matthew Vadum
Matthew Vadum
contributor
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In a politically charged case, a California state appeals court tossed the single remaining conviction against an illegal alien who was found not guilty of a murder charge four years ago for shooting a random woman at a San Francisco tourist attraction, after he had been freed by local authorities. The case drew national attention to sanctuary cities’ refusal to hand over wanted individuals to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Multiple deportee Jose Ines Garcia-Zarate, also known as Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, fired one bullet into Kate Steinle, 32, on Pier 14 on July 1, 2015. Steinle was shot in front of her father and later died in a hospital.