Story highlights All available federal options are on the table, CNN is toldGarcia Zarate was acquitted of murder and involuntary manslaughter in the caseWashington (CNN) The Justice Department is considering bringing federal charges against Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, the man found not guilty in Kate Steinle's killing Thursday night, DOJ spokeswoman Sarah Flores told CNN. Following the verdict by a California jury in San Francisco resident Steinle's death, the DOJ is weighing whether it will take a separate action in bringing charges against Garcia Zarate. The jury acquitted Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant, of murder and involuntary manslaughter charges , as well as assault with a deadly weapon. Prosecutors had argued Garcia Zarate intentionally shot Steinle, 32, with a Sig Sauer .40-caliber handgun as she and her father walked on San Francisco's Pier 14. But Garcia Zarate's defense attorney said the shooting was accidental and the bullet ricocheted off the ground and traveled about 80 feet before hitting Steinle.

Source: CNN December 01, 2017 15:36 UTC