The family of a woman allegedly killed by an undocumented immigrant in San Francisco has filed claims against several state and federal agencies, the first step toward filing a lawsuit.
Kate Steinle was shot on July 1 at the city’s busy Pier 14 in what appeared to be a random shooting. The 32-year-old medical device sales representative died from her injuries.
The man charged with the killing is Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times.
The killing sparked a debate over so-called “sanctuary cities,” such as San Francisco, that shield some undocumented immigrants from federal authorities.
Steinle’s killing got even more attention when Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump starting citing her death as evidence of his claims that undocumented immigrants crossing into the United States are “rapists” and “killers.”
On Tuesday, the Steinle family announced it filed claims against several government agencies for what it calls failures that led to Kate Steinle’s death.
“We’re frustrated and we’re here to make sure a change is made so no one has to endure the pain of my dad and mom and I go on a daily basis because the system failed our sister,” Kate Steinle’s brother, Brad, said.
Claims were filed against the city and county of San Francisco, the local sheriff’s office, the U.S. Department of Interior and Department of Homeland Security.
The claims allege wrongdoing by all the parties for various things.
The state and federal agencies have a specified period to respond to the claim, and depending on the response, can give the Steinle family the green light to file a lawsuit.
Frank Pitre, an attorney for the family, said the claim against the Department of Interior relates to the fact that the gun used in the killing was taken from a ranger working for the Bureau of Land Management.
“We’re here because of a tragedy, and we’re here for people to take ownership and send a message that things have to change,” Pitre said.