'I was horrified' Pleasanton residents outraged at Kate Steinle verdict

Byby Elissa Harrington KGO logo
Friday, December 1, 2017
'I was horrified' Pleasanton residents outraged at Kate Steinle verdict
Kate Steinle grew up in Pleasanton and her family still lives there. Many people in her hometown didn't take kindly to the verdict in her murder case. Some even called it "ridiculous."

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Reaction came down quickly from residents in Kate Steinle's hometown of Pleasanton Thursday night after a not guilty verdict was read out by the jury.

RELATED: Kate Steinle suspect found not guilty, acquitted of murder and manslaughter

"I thought it was ridiculous. I honestly thought it was ridiculous," said Pleasanton resident Victoria.

The shocking verdict in the murder trial has many in Pleasanton fuming.

"I was horrified it would be a not guilty," said another resident Diana Armario. "To me and everybody I know it was just an obvious guilty verdict."

Steinle grew up in the East Bay town about 40 miles outside San Francisco and graduated from Amador Valley High School.

RELATED: Steinle family: 'We're shocked, we're saddened and shocked'

She was living in San Francisco when she decided to take that fateful walk onto Pier 14 with her father.

Many Pleasanton residents have been invested in the case and were stunned by the jury's decision. They say justice has not been served.

"It's just shocking that someone would get away with shooting a gun and murdering somebody and get away with it really," said

"If I'm somebody who is walking with my daughter in San Francisco and the next thing, she ends up dead -- somebody has to pay the price," said Pleasanton resident Tony Budema.

Some blasted San Francisco for being a sanctuary city. And Steinle's accused killer, who was deported five times, should have never been allowed to be there.

"You know one of the things about San Francisco being a sanctuary city is something that I personally don't agree with and I think this is a perfect example of it," added Liz Venema.

Steinle's family still lives in Pleasanton. They were not in court when the verdict was read but told the San Francisco Chronicle they were "shocked and saddened."

Click here to look back at the events of the Kate Steinle murder trial.