Trump says S.F. pier killing shows he’s right on immigration

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Donald Trump, who ignited a firestorm over comments he made in his Republican presidential campaign announcement calling Mexican immigrants rapists and killers, seized on San Francisco’s Pier 14 killing to rail against illegal immigration and call for stronger border control Friday.

Trump called for building a wall between the United States and Mexico after tweeting his “heartfelt condolences” to the family of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle, who died after she was shot in the chest Wednesday evening on Pier 14.

.@marcorubio what do you say to the family of Kathryn Steinle in CA who was viciously killed b/c we can't secure our border? Stand up for US — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2015

Police arrested 45-year-old Francisco Sanchez on suspicion of her slaying. Sanchez has been deported five times and in March was released from San Francisco Jail, despite immigration authorities’ request that he be held.

Investigators believe the gunfire was random, and sources close to the investigation say Sanchez told police he was shooting at a sea lion.

Trump’s Friday Twitter spree began sympathetically enough when he offered his condolences to the family but quickly turned political.

"@BonnieKit: Thank you America Ferrara for supporting lawless criminals from Mexico. One more needless death. 2 innocent lives taken" — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2015

“Where are the other candidates now that this tragic murder has taken place b/c of our unsafe border,” he wrote, linking to a Washington Times story about the killing. “We need a wall!”

He went on to quote tweets from supporters who applauded Trump for saying “what most of us think,” before tweeting at fellow Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida about the killing.

“(W)hat do you say to the family of Kathryn Steinle in CA who was viciously killed b/c we can’t secure our border? Stand up for US.”

Multiple organizations, corporations, networks and celebrities severed ties with Trump after his original comments on Mexican immigrants.

Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: vho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @VIvianHo