Federal Arrest Warrant For Kate Steinle's Killer Unsealed: Report

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Jose Ines Garcia Zarate was holding a gun as it fired, killing Kate Steinle. But the Mexican national, in this country illegally, was acquitted of murder charges by a jury in San Francisco Thursday. He was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. A sentencing hearing has been set for Dec. 14. That conviction could be enough to get Garcia Zarate deported to Mexico - if San Francisco hands him over.

A federal arrest warrant is awaiting the resolution of his case, according to a CBS News report out of Texas.

The amended federal arrest warrant says that Garcia Zarate violated his supervised release on a federal sentence by possessing the gun that killed Steinle. The warrant, issued by a U.S. District Court in Texas, was unsealed following the verdict.

Steinle's killing sparked a national debate over Sanctuary Cities during the presidential election. Federal authorities turned Garcia Zuarte over to San Francisco on March 26, 2015 following his release from prison. SF had an active warrant for him. ICE placed a hold on Garcia Zarate for deportation, after the resolution of his case in San Francisco. However, as a Sanctuary City, San Francisco released him from jail when it decided not to prosecute the old case. Kate Steinle was shot in the back as she strolled on Pier 14 on July 1, 2015. She died in her father's arms.

The bullet that killed Steinle skipped on the pier before it struck her, leading to the defense argument that her death was an accident. Jurors found Garcia Zarate not guilty of first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.

The acquittals have sparked a national outcry, from the White House to the liberal streets of San Francisco where a memorial appeared Friday on Pier 14, where Steinle died.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee reaffirmed the city's stance as a Sanctuary City, perhaps setting up another showdown over Garcia Zarate's release upon the resolution of the Steinle case.

-Top photo credit: Michael Macor/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, Pool, File