It took a while in coming, but the SFGate announced today that the family of 3 murdered San Franciscans is suing the city of S.F., charging that "the city sanctuary policy was a "substantial factor" in the June 22, 2008, slayings of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16."
The family of a father and two sons slain last year in San Francisco filed a lawsuit Friday, blaming the city's sanctuary policy for illegally shielding the suspected gunman from earlier deportation despite his record of "extreme violence."
The suit - lodged in San Francisco Superior Court - asserts that the city sanctuary policy was a "substantial factor" in the June 22, 2008, slayings of Tony Bologna, 48, and his sons Michael, 20, and Matthew, 16. The city attorney's office declined to comment.
Lawyers for Bologna's wife and his two surviving children assert in the suit that the alleged gunman, Edwin Ramos, had at least two prior juvenile offenses and was shielded from deportation under the city's sanctuary policy.
Ramos is charged with murder and is awaiting a preliminary hearing. One of his attorneys has said he is not a gang member and is not guilty in the case.
The city's policy, the suit says, kept police from notifying immigration officials and, thus, was a "substantial factor" in the slayings. The suit notes that city officials knew that Ramos was known for his "extreme violence" - a member of the notorious Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang - yet did not report him to federal officials under "official and unofficial policies"' that afforded him sanctuary.
Mike Kelly, an attorney who filed the suit, said it will be up to a court to decide whether the city is liable in this instance.
"The key thing is how a judge decides whether or not there is an obligation of the city and officials to enact federal law," he said.
Mayor Gavin Newsom, in a statement, did not address the lawsuit. "I am deeply sympathetic to the Bologna family's devastating loss," the statement said. "A terrible crime was committed and my heart goes out to the family."
Personally... I live in San Francisco, and I hope this family tears this city a new asshole. I hope that they OWN this city when this is all played out.
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