(The Washington Post) – The case of a killing on San Francisco’s Pier 14 last week has turned into a national debate about the merit’s of the city’s sanctuary city policy. But the criminal case against the man accused of shooting 32-year old Kate Steinle took an unexpected turn Tuesday.
The weapon used in the shooting, a .40 caliber pistol, belonged to a federal agent, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case. A single bullet had been fired from the gun, which was confirmed to be the same gun that was used to kill Steinle.
The seemingly random act of violence became a national story after police arrested and charged 45-year-old Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez with murder in Steinle’s death. Lopez-Sanchez, an illegal immigrant, had a long history of felony convictions and had been deported five times to Mexico.