Gun Used in Kate Steinle Homicide: Facts, Distance, Richochet, Bullet

Ammoland ^ | 7 December, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The Sig Sauer P239 is a compact semi-automatic pistol that holds seven .40 caliber rounds in the magazine.

The .40 caliber bullet recovered from Kate Steinle's body was a hollowpoint design. It appears to have entered her body while tumbling after ricocheting off Pier 14's paved surface.

The Sig Sauer pistol was stolen from a federal Bureau of Land Management ranger in San Francisco on June 27, 2015, four days before the homicide.  His vehicle was locked.

The gun was out of sight, in a holster in a backpack. The rear passenger window had been smashed in. The pistol was legally secured according to agency policy.

From kqed.org:

“My fiancee yells out, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe this,’ ” Woychowski testified. “The back-seat passenger side window was smashed out.”

He said he called 911 and also reported the theft to his own agency. A BLM investigation found the way he transported and stored the gun did not violate the agency’s policy at the time, and he was not disciplined.

It is easy to understand how even a federal agent could be intimidated into not carrying a gun in San Francisco, when he was not on duty.  One of the problems exacerbated by policies that create gun free zones, is they encourage people to store guns in vehicles. That facilitates the theft of the guns.

The pistol was fired once. The bullet that hit Kate Steinle in the lower back was traveling upward when it hit her.

The .40 caliber bullet hit Pier 14's paved surface about 12-15 feet from the shooter's position, then ricocheted into Kate Steinle's back 90-95 feet further down the pier. Kate Steinle and the illegal alien shooter were about a hundred feet apart when the shooting occurred.

From mercurynews.com:

[Mariner]

“He did not have a lot of money, so it is unlikely that he purchased it on the black market.”

A hot untraceable pistol of that quality goes for at least $500 on the street...likely $1,000 cash. It’s far more valuable than a store bought gun.

[marktwain]

I routinely carry a pistol in SF.

The only potential for “being detained” is if somebody sees it and keeps an eye on you until police arrive. In that busy city, not likely.

Even then, a quick flash of the badge receives a sincere apology from any LEO.

---

Thanks for the reality check. San Fran does have a bad reputation in the gun community, though. Maybe not as bad as New Jersey...

[snoringbear]

“The bullet was tumbling when it hit Kate. I do not know the exact entrance point, said to be “lower back”. It clipped the aorta. Death was very quick.”

Thanks. Very unlucky for Kate for sure. Nevertheless, if the creep had not been here (U.S.) luck would not have been involved and Kate would still be alive enjoying the holidays with friends and family.