Illegal immigrant 'used rifle stolen from a federal agent to shoot dead innocent woman': Hillary joins outrage at litany of mistakes that left San Francisco gunman armed and free to kill in the U.S.

  • Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez pleaded not guilty on Tuesday at his arraignment 
  • His public defender Matt Gonzalez said the shooting of a San Francisco woman, Kathryn Steinle, 32, last week appeared to be an 'accident'
  •  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said San Francisco was wrong to release Sanchez from custody
  • Sanchez has served more than 17 years in prison for entering the country illegally and also has four felony drug convictions

The illegal immigrant accused of shooting and killing a San Francisco woman in front of her father appeared in court on Tuesday as Hillary Clinton joined figures from across the political spectrum in condemning the city's decision to release him before the crime. 

Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez pleaded not guilty to murdering Kathryn Steinle as she walked on Pier 14 with her father. His public defender Matt Gonzalez said the shooting last week appeared to be an 'accident' and Sanchez claims the rifle 'went off in his hands'.

The San Francisco chronicle claims that the rifle used to kill Miss Steinle had been stolen from an federal agent's car in June. It adds to other reports that Sanchez had been using it to shoot at seals.

Sanchez's alleged crime follows controversial comments by Donald Trump against illegal immigrants which have brought the debate on how they should be handled to the fore.

And on Tuesday Hillary Clinton commented on Sanchez's case, telling CNN: 'The city made a mistake, not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported.'

Donald Trump has called the crime a 'disgrace' numerous other political figures have added their condemnation.

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Apperaed in court: Francisco Sanchez (right) enters court for an arraignment with San Francisco public defender Jeff Adachi (left) on July 7, 2015 in San Francisco, California

Apperaed in court: Francisco Sanchez (right) enters court for an arraignment with San Francisco public defender Jeff Adachi (left) on July 7, 2015 in San Francisco, California

Pleaded not guilty: Francisco Sanchez plead not guilty to charges that he shot and killed 32 year-old Kathryn Steinle as she walked on Pier 14 in San Francisco with her father last week

Pleaded not guilty: Francisco Sanchez plead not guilty to charges that he shot and killed 32 year-old Kathryn Steinle as she walked on Pier 14 in San Francisco with her father last week

Kathryn Steinle
Francisco Sanchez

Accused of murder: Sanchez (right) is accused of killing Kathryn Steinle (left) in front of her father though Sanchez kept telling a judge on Tuesday that he was 'not guilty' despite saying on TV he accidentally shot Steinle on Monday 

The defense: San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi (second left) speaks with reporters next to his office's chief attorney Matt Gonzalez (left) following an arraignment for Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez

The defense: San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi (second left) speaks with reporters next to his office's chief attorney Matt Gonzalez (left) following an arraignment for Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez

In jailhouse interviews with two television stations, Sanchez said he found a gun wrapped in a shirt on the pier and it went off in his hands.

'This was an act of random violence, shooting an innocent victim in the back' prosecutor Dianna Garcia told the judge, arguing against releasing Sanchez on bail.

The judge set bail at $5 million, which Gonzalez said will keep Sanchez jailed pending trial.

A downcast Sanchez spent most of the hearing with his head bowed, appearing to fight back tear 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 has a second-grade education and a non-violent criminal record of low-level drug arrests and immigration violations.

He could face life in prison if convicted.

Leading Democrats - including San Francisco's former mayor Senator Dianne Feinstein - are joining mounting criticism of the city's policy of refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials when they request help in detaining a suspect thought to be in the country illegally.

The comments on Tuesday involved the release last month of Lopez Sanchez.

Condemning the city: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton old CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody after local prosecutors dropped marijuana possession charges in April

Condemning the city: Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton old CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody after local prosecutors dropped marijuana possession charges in April

Judge Daniel Flores sits on the bench during Francisco Sanchez's arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday. The judge set bail at $5 million, which Gonzalez said will keep Sanchez jailed pending trial

Judge Daniel Flores sits on the bench during Francisco Sanchez's arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday. The judge set bail at $5 million, which Gonzalez said will keep Sanchez jailed pending trial

His release came despite a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement request to keep him in custody so he could be deported for the sixth time.

Sanchez has served more than 17 years in prison for entering the country illegally and also has four felony drug convictions.

Criticism of San Francisco's sanctuary city policy was expected from top Republicans such as Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson. But the policy is also drawing unexpected fire from Democrats, including both U.S. senators from California.

In addition, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody after local prosecutors dropped marijuana possession charges in April. 

Francisco Sanchez, center, is lead out of the courtroom by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, right, and Assistant District Attorney Diana Garciaor, left, after his arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday

Francisco Sanchez, center, is lead out of the courtroom by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, right, and Assistant District Attorney Diana Garciaor, left, after his arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday

Feinstein called on San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to start cooperating with federal immigration officials who want to deport felons such as Sanchez who are in the country illegally. 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.'

The San Francisco mayor's office said it has reached out to Department of Homeland Security officials to determine if there's a way to cooperate with federal immigration officials while still maintaining the sanctuary policy.

'Mayor Lee shares the senator's concerns surrounding the nature of Mr. Sanchez' transfer to San Francisco and release,' said Christine Falvey, a spokeswoman for the mayor. 

Claims in was an accident: San Francisco public defender chief attorney Matt Gonzalez speaks with reporters after the arraignment for Francisco Sanchez on Tuesday and says the shooting was very likely an accident 

Claims in was an accident: San Francisco public defender chief attorney Matt Gonzalez speaks with reporters after the arraignment for Francisco Sanchez on Tuesday and says the shooting was very likely an accident 

'As the mayor has stated, we need to gather all of the facts as we develop potential solutions.'

Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer, also from Northern California, said she asked Gov. Jerry Brown if state law was followed in the release of Sanchez.

'For decades, I have supported deporting violent criminals, and I have always believed that sanctuary should not be given to felons,' Boxer said.

San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has defended the release of Sanchez from jail and the city's 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.

Long history of crime: Sanchez has served more than 17 years in prison for entering the country illegally and also has four felony drug convictions

Long history of crime: Sanchez has served more than 17 years in prison for entering the country illegally and also has four felony drug convictions

'ICE knew where he was,' Mirkarimi said Monday. He said he will continue to ignore ICE detainer requests and that federal officials can easily obtain court orders to keep deportation suspects in custody.

State and federal Republicans, meanwhile, said they would look into the matter.

Johnson, who chairs the Senate's homeland security committee, criticized federal officials and demanded to know why Sanchez was not deported.

'Does that make any sense to you?' Johnson, R-Wis., demanded to know at a hearing. 

'Because I'll tell you it doesn't make any sense to the American public.'

State Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Temecula, said he would introduce legislation in Sacramento to require cities to comply with ICE detainer requests.

 

 

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