The family of a father and two sons allegedly murdered by an illegal immigrant last year reportedly is suing the city of San Francisco, claiming its "sanctuary city" policy contributed to their deaths.
Anthony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16, were returning from a picnic when they were gunned down on June 16, allegedly by Salvadoran national Edwin Ramos, 22.
The case prompted public outcry after it emerged that Ramos was convicted of two gang-related felonies when he was 17, but local officials did not contact federal agencies to determine his immigration status.
The Bologna family filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the city's sanctuary policy shielding illegal immigrants from questions about their citizenship status — even those charged with a crime — was to blame, KCBS San Francisco reported.
"The city adopted and enforced a policy that was actually inconsistent with and prohibited by federal law," Bologna family attorney Michael Kelly was quoted as saying.
The city declined to comment on the lawsuit when contacted by local media.
Mayor Gavin Newsom would only say, in a written statement, that he was "deeply sympathetic to the Bologna family's devastating loss. A terrible crime was committed, and my heart goes out to the family."
Ramos has pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder in the Bologna case.
He also faces various other gang-related charges including multiple murders.
"It should have been resolved at the beginning, when this guy had done more than one crime in the city," Bologna's widow told FOX News in July. "I want justice. I want the people to see. If my family wasn’t safe, what makes you think yours will be?"
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