Francisco Sanchez, right, is lead into the courtroom by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, left, and Assistant District Attorney Diana Garciaor, center, for his arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 in San Francisco. Prosecutors have charged the Mexican immigrant with murder in the waterfront shooting death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle. (Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool)

(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.

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