(CNN) The fatal shooting of Kate Steinle on a San Francisco pier last summer -- allegedly at the hands of an undocumented immigrant deported five times from the United States -- became a focal point of an angry national debate over illegal immigration.
On Friday, her family filed a federal lawsuit against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, San Francisco County's former sheriff, the federal Bureau of Land Management and the man who allegedly fired the deadly shot.
"Kate's death was both foreseeable and preventable had the law enforcement agencies, officials and/or officers involved simply followed the laws, regulations and/or procedures which they swore to uphold," the lawsuit said.
On the evening of July 1, 2015, Steinle was walking on a busy pier of the Embarcadero with her father when there was a single popping sound in the air. The 32-year-old medical device sales representative was shot in the chest, a bullet piercing her aorta, according to the lawsuit.
Her father, James, held her in his arms. "Help me Daddy," were her last words to him, the lawsuit said. She died later at a hospital.
The man accused of firing the deadly shot -- 45-year-old Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez -- is an undocumented immigrant and a repeat felon who has been deported five times to Mexico, according to the suit.
The suit, which seeks unspecified damages, names the city and county of San Francisco, former county Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and the United States "for their failures to perform mandatory duties and/or for the unconstitutional and/or negligent acts and/or omissions of their officers, officials, agents and/or employees."
It also names Lopez-Sanchez, a seven-time felon who had recently been released from county custody and was in possession of a stolen .40-caliber government-issued firearm, said the lawsuit, which alleges wrongful death, negligence and civil rights violations.
"Kate's fate was sealed when a U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Ranger failed to properly secure and/or store a government-issued firearm while it was left in an unoccupied vehicle in a high auto-theft neighborhood," the lawsuit said.
ICE declined to comment on pending litigation but said in a statement that agency director Sarah Saldaña met with members of the Steinle family last year "to express the agency's profound sympathy for their loss and assert the agency's continued commitment to working cooperatively with law enforcement in California and nationwide to promote our shared goals of protecting communities and upholding public safety." The Bureau of Land Management declined comment.
Attempts to reach the former sheriff and an attorney for Lopez-Sanchez for comment were not immediately successful.
cont.
Cameron Garcia
The suit alleges that the shooting was set in motion in March 2015, when the county and former sheriff issued a memo approving a policy that eliminated communication about undocumented immigrants with immigration authorities. The policy was in "direct contravention" of federal and state laws, according to the lawsuit.
Weeks after the memo's release, the sheriff's department transported Lopez-Sanchez from a federal prison to San Francisco to appear in court on a bench warrant for marijuana possession and sales. The drug case was dismissed.
Immigration officials had a detainer request for Lopez-Sanchez but the sheriff's department released him, according to the lawsuit.
"By prohibiting the notification to ICE necessary for custody, detention, deportation and/or removal of undocumented convicted felons, the March Memo deprived KATE of life and liberty without due process, as required under the United States Constitution," the lawsuit said.
"The March Memo amounts to deliberate indifference to federal, state, and/or local law which safeguarded KATE's constitutional rights and is the moving force behind the constitutional violation of her rights." Lopez-Sanchez was arrested and charged with the murder on July 6, 2015.
The uproar caused extensive finger pointing, with Mirkarimi blaming federal officials for not keeping the suspect in custody.
FIN
Cooper Smith
I'd love to see San Fran sued into oblivion but that would just cause their infection to spread. Like California in general.
>"Help me Daddy," were her last words to him, the lawsuit said. She died later at a hospital. Did you HAVE to post that part ? Fucking asshole.
Christopher Smith
Yep. U mad?
Noah Lee
>Sarah Saldaña Wait why is a spic in charge of Immigration Control...
Interesting picture. It really invigorates my curiosity
Angel Long
I miss the days when white people would kill their enemies.
Logan Hughes
>Her father, James, held her in his arms. "Help me Daddy," were her last words to him
Luke Jones
...
Henry Cooper
>former sheriff issued a memo approving a policy that eliminated communication about undocumented immigrants with immigration authorities I dont understand this, is this corruption or what? how can something to prevent communication be approved? whats the excuse?
Sebastian Lee
10 feet higher
Eli Sullivan
>"Help me Daddy"
Aiden Rogers
Nope. Very sad.
Grayson Cox
They vote Democrat. That's why they're allowed to stay. And because Republicucks have long ago abandoned their core principles in favor of the cheap labor illegals provide.
Colton Robinson
Mandatory death penalty for criminal aliens when? Make 'em think twice about coming to the US. I hope they're all nailed to the wall.
Liam Rivera
>very sad kek
Cooper Rogers
Why the fuck are Sanctuary Cities even a thing? Why would you protect criminals to such a degree?
Angel Watson
Nightly reminder: it's morning in Israel.
Joshua Campbell
>millions of illegal mexicunts flood across the border like a smelly brown wave >president turns blind eye because they vote democrat/socialist >big business loves illegals because it drives down wages >so many illegals that if law enforcement did their jobs they'd be busting illegals and nothing else >sherriff decides to stop enforcement because he wouldn't be able to do anything BUT bust illegals
Gabriel Foster
Because America and the West in general are run by jews and have consequently gone full retard.
Joshua Wood
I'm on my second glass of wine and I found a place to dump my memes for the night.
>help me daddy
Sebastian Green
Most border patrol agents are spics as well.
Anthony Allen
Daddy's coming
Samuel Phillips
And why is that funny?
Grayson Barnes
>daddy's coming in his own daughter
Hunter Thompson
yep
Alexander Murphy
>help me daddy
Josiah Gomez
A sanctuary city should be one which is known primarily for its religious attraction.
My list of sanctuary cities: Jerusalem Mecca Constantinople (or Istanbul if that's more your style) Vatican City Salt Lake City
It also looks like Wikipedia has a good list on the article "Holy City"
it should NOT be a place where illegal residents of a country can do whatever the fuck they want.
Zachary Thomas
Agreed. Too bad libshits worship the state.
Jack Martin
white leftists (fortunately) don't breed so they don't value basic concepts like family. Plus edge.
Kevin Fisher
>Her father, James, held her in his arms. "Help me Daddy," were her last words to him, the lawsuit said. She died later at a hospital.
This is how vigilantes are made.
Liam Turner
muh fee-fees
James Thomas
So? To deny your feelings is to deny your humanity. I am not advocating policies based off of feelings. Everyone involved should be held accountable by the measure of the law.
Isaac Flores
>Her father, James, held her in his arms. "Help me Daddy," were her last words to him
Time to reform the Committee of Vigilance.
WHEREAS it has become apparent to the citizens of San Francisco, that there is no security for life and property, either under the regulations of society as it at present exists, or under the law as now administered; Therefore the citizens, whose names are hereunto attached, do unit themselves into an association for the maintenance of the peace and good order of society, and the preservation of the lives and property of the citizens of San Francisco, and do bind ourselves, each unto the other, to do and perform every lawful act for the maintenance of law and order, and to sustain the laws when faithfully and properly administered; but we are determined that no thief, burglar, incendiary or assassin, shall escape punishment, either by the quibbles of the law, the insecurity of prisons. the carelessness or corruption of the police, or a laxity of those who pretend to administer justice. - Daily Alta California June 13, 1851
Jaxson Roberts
Agreed. If that was his only child, I'd see no reason why not to kill the bastards, among others.
