Kate Steinle Murder Trial by Illegal Immigrant Begins … Opening Statements & Emotional Testimony From Father

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, KATE STEINLE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY IF A PREVIOUSLY DEPORTED ILLEGAL ALIEN WAS NOT ALLOWED TO LIVE AND BE PROTECTED BY THE SANCTUARY CITY OF SAN FRANSISCO …

The Kate Steinle murder trial began yesterday. Opening statements have begun in the trial of an illegal immigrant Mexican man accused of fatally shooting an innocent legal U.S. female citizen on a San Francisco pier two years ago. The case set off a national immigration debate during last year’s presidential race on sanctuary cities and crimes committed against U.S. citizens. Illegal immigrant, 45 year old Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, has plead not guilty and while his attorneys claimed it was an accident.What is not in dispute is the following, Garcia Zarate had been deported five times and was homeless in San Francisco when he shot the 32-year-old Steinle. The illegal immigrant, who had no business being in the United States, had recently completed a prison sentence for illegal re-entry to the U.S. when he was transferred to the San Francisco County jail to face a 20-year-old marijuana charge. Prosecutors dropped that charge, and the San Francisco sheriff released Zarate from jail despite a federal immigration request to detain him for at least two more days for deportation. Maybe San Francisco should be put on trial for Kate Steinle’s death as well.

Kate Steinle (left) – Jose Ines Garcia Zarate (Rt)

The undocumented immigrant accused of shooting and killing Pleasanton native Kate Steinle was aiming toward her and knew what he was doing, a prosecutor argued Monday at the start of a politically charged murder case that sparked a nationwide debate over immigration policy.

But a defense attorney said Steinle’s death was the result of an accidental gunshot and a “freakish ricochet” of the bullet that struck her.

The trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, who allegedly shot 32-year-old Steinle on San Francisco’s Pier 14 in July 2015, kicked off on Monday with opening statements and brief but emotional testimony from Steinle’s father, who was walking with her during the shooting.

The closely watched case has attracted national attention because of its connection to immigration policy — Garcia Zarate, a Mexican citizen, was released from a San Francisco jail two and a half months before the shooting instead of being deported because of the city’s sanctuary city policy. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and other conservatives seized on the shooting as an argument for tougher immigration laws.

Garcia Zarate, 45, has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder, and his lawyers argue that the shooting was an accident — a single shot that ricocheted off the pier into Steinle’s back. The prosecution will try to convince jurors that Garcia Zarate shot recklessly at people, the standard necessary for a second-degree conviction.

Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia started her at times dramatic opening statement by lifting up the gun, a plastic tag through its trigger.

UPDATE I: Father recalls shooting that killed daughter.

Through tears, the father of a woman killed on a San Francisco pier says he was walking with his daughter and a family friend when he heard a loud bang.

Jim Steinle testified Monday that his daughter Kate threw her arms open around him and asked for help before collapsing.

He says he rolled her onto her side and could see a bullet hole in her back. He says there was little blood.

During his campaign, President Donald Trump cited the shooting as a reason to toughen U.S. immigration policies.

Jim Steinle was the first witness to testify in the murder trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate.

He testified for about 10 minutes and Garcia Zarate’s lawyer declined to question him.

This has everything to do with sanctuary cities like San Fransisco and the allowing of illegals in the United States, protecting them and affording then rights as if they were U.S. citizens. If the family of Kate Steinle is not provided justice, there will be a backlash in the United States like the LEFT and sanctuary cities have ever seen. Make no mistake about it, NO JUSTICE … NO PEACE at the ballot boxes in 2018 or 2020.

Just One Hour Before the Las Vegas Massacre Big & Rich and Crowd Sings “God Bless America” (VIDEO) … CBS Legal Exec Fired After Sasying No Sympathy For Vegas ‘Because Country Music Fans Often Are Republican

IT WAS THE THE BEST OF TIMES, IT WAS THE WORST OF TIMES …

The below video makes my heart cry in so many ways. Just one hour prior to the Las Vegas shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival thousands of fans sang in unison with the country band Big & Rich belting out the lyrics to ‘God Bless America’ as they held their cell phones in the air lighting up the crowd with pride and patriotism. What an awesome sight. Then, 59 of those lights were killed by an insane mad man. Over 585 of those lights were wounded as the rest ran for their lives. One of those individuals killed was 29 year old Sonny Melton from Big Sandy, Tennessee who was their with his wife Heather, on their one year wedding anniversary. Heather Melton said her husband saved her life while gunfire was hitting the crowd. God bless. During the cowardly actions of the gunman who fired on a defenseless crowd who’s only crime was attending a country music festival, there were so many acts of selflessness and bravery as strangers helped each other by protecting them from gun fire, helping them get to the hospital, providing care and in some cases laying an article of clothing over the deceased. America, these are the things that make us great. No one ever plans on anything like this happening, but when it does, when we see heinous acts of mans inhumanity against man, we also see what makes us good and the best of us.

Then there is the not s best of us … Sadly, during this heinous act of violence that saw 59 innocent people die and over 500 wounded, we also get the actions of misguided individuals who can help but spew hatred. CBS News fired Hayley Geftman-Gold, who was a vice president and senior legal counsel at CBS in New York, after she made the following comments. where she criticized some victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting as “Republican gun toters” who did not deserve sympathy. Are you kidding me? Hmm, how many others at CBS and the other liberal MSM feel the same way, they just were not completely ignorant to say it? Also, there were many politicians on the LEFT who could not even wait until the deceased were removed from the fields before they made this massacre political and called for gun control that would prevent nothing.

A top legal executive at CBS, Hayley Geftman-Gold, said she “is not even sympathetic” for the victims of the shooting at a country music festival at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas Sunday night.

“If they wouldn’t do anything when children were murdered I have no hope that Repugs will ever do the right thing,” wrote Geftman-Gold on Facebook, perhaps referring to Sandy Hook. “I’m actually not even sympathetic bc country music fans often are Republican gun toters.”

Musician, Big & Rich, Big Kenny speaks on Las Vegas Incident

John Rich performed on Las Vegas stage shortly before attack

President Donald Trump Calls Las Vegas Shooting an ‘Act of Pure Evil’ and Thanks Police & First Responders (VIDEO)

President Donald Trump consoles the families of the victims and a nation …

President Donald Trump addressed the nation yesterday following the Las Vegas shooting massacre that saw 59 people killed and over 500 injured. President Trump called the largest mass murder at the  in United States history an “act of pure evil.” The president thanked the Las Vegas Metropolitan police and the first responders for their heroic, courageous and profession actions that helped save the lives of so many.

“Hundreds of our fellow citizens are now mourning the sudden loss of a loved one, a parent, a child, a brother or sister. We cannot fathom their pain, we cannot imagine their loss. To the families of the victims, we are praying for you and we are here for you. And we ask God to help see you through this very dark period.

Scripture teaches us the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve. To the wounded who are now recovering in hospitals, we are praying for your full and speedy recovery, and pledge to you our support from this day forward.”

ABC News:

President Donald Trump condemned the mass shooting in Las Vegas — in which at least 59 people were shot dead — as an “act of pure evil” and declared the nation would unite behind the survivors, but he refused to get into a new debate over gun control.

Trump spoke slowly and carefully Monday morning from the White House Diplomatic Room, focusing not on the identity or possible motive of the gunman but on the nation’s efforts to heal.

The remarks were the prelude to a two-part test of whether Trump, a leader who excels at political provocation, can also deliver solace. Trump is slated to visit Puerto Rico Tuesday to survey devastation from Hurricane Maria, before going to Las Vegas Wednesday to meet with families of the dead.

“Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence,” the president said. “We call upon the bonds that unite us: our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity.”

Trump spoke hours after a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Vegas Strip casino opened fire on people at an outdoor country music festival below. The gunman, 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, killed at least 59 people, police say, as tens of thousands of concertgoers screamed and ran for their lives. More than 500 people were hurt.

Full Transcript can be read HERE.

“… In memory of the fallen, I have directed that our great flag be flown at half-staff. I will be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday to meet with law enforcement, first responders, and the families of the victims. In moments of tragedy and horror, America comes together as one. And it always has.

We call upon the bonds that unite us, our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community, and the comfort of our common humanity. Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence, and though we feel such great anger, at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today. And always will. Forever.

In times such as these, I know we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness. The answers do not come easy. But we can take solace knowing that even the darkest space can be brightened by a single light and even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope.

Melania and I are praying for every American who has been hurt, wounded or lost the ones they loved so dearly in this terrible, terrible attack. We pray for the entire nation to find unity and peace, and we pray for the day when evil is banished and the innocent are safe from hatred and from fear.

May God bless the souls of the lives that are lost, may God give us the grace of healing and may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on. Thank you. God bless America. Thank you.”

Largest Mass Shooting in American History … Las Vegas Shooting: More Than 20 Killed & 200 Injured Hurt Near Mandalay Bay During Route 91 Harvest Festival (VIDEO) (Update: 50 Dead & Over 400 Wounded) (Update: Shooter Dead, ID’d as Stephen Paddock)

DEAR GOD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE …

Horror strikes the the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, NV last night as a sniper opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel down upon unsuspecting, innocent concert goers. There is a reported 20 dead and more than 200 injured.  According to authorities the shooting began st the Route 91 Harvest festival, near the Mandalay Bay Casino, at about 10:10 p.m. local time. As per eye witness reports, “We heard what sounded like firecrackers going off. Then all of a sudden we heard what sounded like a machine gun. People started screaming that they were hit… When we started running out there were probably a couple hundred [people] on the ground.”

Say a prayer for those involved in this terrible mass shooting.

As Jason Aldean was closing the concert in Las Vegas shots began to be fired from and automatic weapon onto to crown

A gunman opened fire during a country music festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night — killing more than 20 people and wounding over 100 with a high-powered assault rifle before being shot by police, according to officials.

Cops confirmed early Monday that the shooter was dead and said they believed he acted alone.

Officials described him as a local Las Vegas resident but offered no other details.

Las Vegas police responded to the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino around 10 p.m. after receiving calls about an active shooter targeting concertgoers at the Route 91 country music fest.

University Medical Center spokeswoman Danita Cohen said the local hospital had taken in “several” people with gunshot wounds. She didn’t offer any more details.

One Las Vegas hospital reported treating at least 20 victims for gunshot wounds, according to KABC.

UPDATE II: More than 50 Now Dead & 400 wonded in Las Vegas Shooting:

More than 50 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern American history when a lone gunman opened fire into an outdoor country music festival from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel on Sunday night, police said.

More than 200 people were injured as performer Jason Aldean was onstage, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said at a news conference.

The gunman was identified by law enforcement officials as Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada.

More than 50 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in modern American history when a lone gunman opened fire into an outdoor country music festival from the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel on Sunday night, police said.

More than 200 people were injured as performer Jason Aldean was onstage, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said at a news conference.

The gunman was identified by law enforcement officials as Stephen Paddock, 64, of Mesquite, Nevada.

The shooting is not believed to be connected to international terrorism.

The Latest:

More than 50 people were killed, 200 injured in deadliest mass shooting in modern American history.
Gunman identified as Stephen Paddock, 64-year-old man from Mesquite, Nevada.
Several weapons were found inside Paddock’s room at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.
President Donald Trump is monitoring the developments, the White House said.

Police responded to reports of the shooting just after 10 p.m. (1 a.m. ET), and the suspect was fatally shot in the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, officials said.

UPDATE II: The shooting suspect has Been ID’d as 64 year old Stephen Paddock, a resident of Mesquite, Nev., a city 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas. Shooter is dead.

CBS News: SWAT teams quickly descended on the concert and the casino, and officers used explosives to get into the hotel room where the suspect was inside, authorities said. The gunman was found dead at the scene and was identified by Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo as Stephen Paddock, 64. A motive was not immediately known. It is believed Paddock committed suicide prior to law enforcement entering his room.

A gunman perched high on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas Strip casino unleashed a shower of bullets down on an outdoor country music festival below, killing at least 50 people and wounding more than 200 as tens of thousands of frantic concert-goers screamed and ran for their lives, officials said Monday. It was the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Country music star Jason Aldean was performing Sunday night at the end of the three-day Route 91 Harvest Festival when the gunman opened fire across the street from inside the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. SWAT teams quickly descended on the concert and the casino, and officers used explosives to get into the hotel room where the suspect was inside, authorities said. The gunman died at the scene and was identified by Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo as Stephen Paddock. A motive as not immediately known.

Deadly Tennessee Church Shooting in Antioch, 1 Dead, 8 Injured Including Gunman (Update: Shooter Arrested; Update II: Gunman ID’d as Emanuel Kidega Samson)

 Shooting at Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, TN … One Dead ... Say a prayer for the victims and the families of those lost and injured.

One person is dead and eight others wounded Sunday after a masked man opened fire following a church service in Antioch, Tennessee at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ. As church let out at approximately 11:30 am Sunday, a gunman killed one female in the parking lot and then proceeded to enter the church from the rear and opened fire. The woman killed has been identified as Melanie Smith, 39. Smith was a mother of two who lived in Smyrna.  One church member, 22 year-old Caleb Engle, is reported to have confronted the shooter before being pistol whipped in the face. Engle then went to his car to retrieve a gun, which he has under a concealed carry license.

Please say a prayer for the victims. As it turns out it appears that I am friends and acquaintances with individuals who personally know some of the victims involved in this church shooting, including minister Joey Spann and his wife, Peggy. Get well, may the Lord be with you and God bless.

Police say the gunman wore a neoprene ski mask when he shot and killed Smith in the parking lot of Burnette Chapel Church of Christ, as the service ended shortly after 11 a.m.

With his blue Nissan Xterra still running, the gunman then entered the rear sanctuary doors of the church and began “indiscriminately” shooting, police said.

Among those shot were three men and three women, police spokesman Don Aaron said.

The church’s minister Joey Spann, 60, and his wife, Peggy, 65, were both injured in the shooting, said Nashville Christian School in a statement on Facebook. Spann is a Bible teacher and a high school and middle school basketball coach.

UPDATE I: Nashville Police have identified the suspect of a mass shooting at a church Sunday morning as 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, an African American who immigrated from Sudan. So will this be charged as a hate crime?

Samson is being charged with murder and multiple counts of attempted murder in the attack that killed one and left at least seven other people injured at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, a town just south of Nashville, Tenn.

Samson is a bodybuilder who attended high school in Tennessee and is originally from Karthoum, Sudan, according screenshots of the suspect’s Facebook page obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation before the account was taken down. Police say he is a legal resident and came to the U.S. in the 1990s.

“Everything you’ve ever doubted or made to be believe as false, is real. & vice versa, B” Samson wrote in his final post, around 11 a.m. CDT.
Emanuel K. Samson facebook page (Screenshot/Facebook)

Police Identify Suspect, Victims In Church Shooting

UPDATE II: Victims ID’d and taken to area hospitals:

In addition to the Spanns, police identified the victims as William Jhaenkins, 83, Marlene Jenkins, 84, Linda Busch, 68, Katherine Dickerson, 64 and Engle, 22. Police identified one of the victims as David Spann — his colleague Mike McPherson confirmed tt Spann’s full name is David Joseph Spann.

UPDATE III: Samson will be charged with one count of murder, additional charges will come later.

UPDATE IV: FBI launches civil rights investigation.

One woman was killed and seven other people were hurt after a suspect identified as a Sudanese immigrant opened fire at a Tennessee church Sunday, police said, as the FBI confirmed it’s launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting.

The suspect, 25-year-old Emanuel Kidega Samson, immigrated from Sudan two decades ago, police said. He’s suspected of bringing at least two pistols and a mask to the predominantly white Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, southeast of Nashville, before

Metropolitan Nashville Police Department tweeted that Samson had been released from the hospital and will be charged with murder and attempted murder.

“The Memphis FBI Field Office’s Nashville Resident Agency, the Civil Rights Division, and the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee have opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting at the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee. The FBI will collect all available facts and evidence,” FBI Memphis told Fox News.