A state appeals court says San Francisco cannot be held responsible for the deaths of a father and two sons allegedly killed by a man who had previously been protected by the city's sanctuary city policy.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the San Francisco court ruled Monday that the city isn't liable for crimes committed by the alleged gunman, Edwin Ramos, a suspected illegal immigrant from El Salvador. The decision upholds a February 2010 superior court decision.

Police believe Ramos mistook Tony Bologna and his sons, Michael and Matthew, for gang members and then fatally shot them near their San Francisco home in June 2008.

Relatives say the victims might be alive if Ramos had been turned over to immigration authorities after earlier arrests when he was a juvenile.