Kate Steinle Trial: BLM Ranger Called 'Dangerous' By Defense

A defense attorney representing the man charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle blasted a Bureau of Land Management ranger as "dangerous and irresponsible" for leaving the gun used in the shooting unsecured in his vehicle. Ranger John Woychowski testified Thursday in the trial of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, 45, who is charged with second-degree murder in the July 1, 2015 fatal shooting of Kate Steinle at San Francisco's Pier 14 with a stolen gun. Defense attorneys have argued that the shooting was accidental, occurring after the defendant found the gun stashed under a seat on the pier, wrapped in a cloth or T-shirt. The gunshot that struck Steinle was a ricochet off the pier, according to evidence presented at the preliminary hearing. They have placed the actions of Woychowski, whose gun was stolen from a car in San Francisco shortly before the shooting, at the center of their case, alleging that he was negligent in leaving the gun in the car. Woychowski was off duty and stopped in San Francisco while on a family trip to a temporary posting in Helena, Montana on the night of June 27, 2015, when the gun was stolen. When he returned, two of the vehicle's windows had been smashed and the backpack with the gun inside was missing. Also taken in the burglary were articles of clothing and credit cards. The credit cards and second magazine were ultimately recovered, but not the articles of clothing. Under cross-examination by Matt Gonzalez, who is representing Garcia Sanchez, Woychowski said the Sig Sauer does not have a safety mechanism. Gonzalez attempted to ask the ranger if he felt he bore any responsibility for the shooting, which occurred several days later, but Judge James Feng sustained an objection to the question and prevented Woychowski from answering. Outside court, Gonzalez described his actions in leaving the loaded gun in the car as "dangerous and irresponsible." "There's no question that he negligently triggered the course of events that led to the death of Kate Steinle," Gonzalez said, noting that he did not believe Woychowski was criminally liable...more