upper waypoint

Defendant in Kathryn Steinle's Death Indicted on Federal Gun Charges

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate (R) enters court for an arraignment with San Francisco public defender Jeff Adachi (L) on July 7, 2015, in San Francisco. (Michael Macor-Pool/Getty Images)

Jose Ines Garcia Zarate is now wanted in two federal districts following his acquittal on murder and manslaughter counts in San Francisco last week.

Garcia Zarate was charged with murder and related crimes for the death of Kathryn Steinle on San Francisco's waterfront in 2015. The case has drawn national attention since then-presidential candidate Donald Trump seized on Garcia Zarate's history of deportations and illegal re-entry in the U.S. to criticize so-called sanctuary cities like San Francisco. Garcia Zarate was released in San Francisco two months before Steinle's death despite a request from immigration authorities to turn him over for deportation.

A San Francisco jury found Garcia Zarate not guilty of murder and manslaughter charges -- appearing to agree with the defense argument that the ricochet shot that killed Steinle was an accidental discharge. The jury found Garcia Zarate guilty of being a felon in possession of a handgun, which was stolen from a U.S. Bureau of Land Management ranger's car four days before Steinle's death.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California announced an indictment of Garcia Zarate Tuesday evening, charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and being an immigrant in the country illegally in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

He faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for each charge, according to the U.S. attorney's announcement.

Sponsored

Shortly after his acquittal, a warrant seeking Garcia Zarate's arrest for violating conditions of his release from federal prison was unsealed in a Texas federal court.

Garcia Zarate is scheduled to be sentenced for his conviction in San Francisco next week. It's unclear when he will be taken into federal custody to answer the new charges.

Read the Northern California indictment below.

lower waypoint
next waypoint
Stunning Archival Photos of the 1906 Earthquake and FireCould Protesters Who Shut Down Golden Gate Bridge Be Charged With False Imprisonment?San Francisco Sues Oakland Over Plan to Change Airport NameAfter Parole, ICE Deported This Refugee Back to a Country He Never KnewHow a Pivotal Case on Homelessness Could Redefine Policies in California and the NationAlameda County DA Charges 3 Police Officers With Manslaughter in Death of Mario GonzalezDeath Doula Alua Arthur on How and Why to Prepare for the EndCalifornia Pet Owners Could Rent Apartments More Easily Under New BillGaza Aid Flotilla to Include Bay Area ResidentsDespite Progress, Black Californians Still Face Major Challenges In Closing Equality Gap