Edwin Ramos Trial: Andrew Bologna, Lone Survivor In 2008 Triple-Homicide, Testifies (VIDEO)

On Wednesday morning, Andrew Bologna, the only survivor in a 2008 Excelsior District triple-homicide that spotlighted San Francisco's sanctuary ordinance, testified against suspected MS-13 gang member Edwin Ramos.

According to SF Appeal, Bologna pointed at Ramos during the tearful testimony and identified him as the shooter. "I saw him," he said. "He was staring at my dad, mugging him, giving him a mean look, and that's when he pulled out a gun. [...] They shot my family like that, it doesn't make any sense."

Bologna's mother Danielle sat in the front row and sobbed throughout the testimony.

(SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO)

Bologna's father and two brothers were killed in the shooting, which occurred at an Excelsior District intersection while the family was driving home from a barbecue.

Allegedly, Ramos pulled up next to the Bologna's car and opened fire, killing his father and two brothers. Bologna ducked down in the car, saving his life. Prosecutors allege that Ramos, an undocumented immigrant who entered the country illegally as a child, mistook the family for members of a rival gang.

Ramos originally denied any involvement with the incident, but later admitted to driving the car and claimed that his passenger, Wilfredo "Flaco" Reyesruano, shot without warning. Reyesruano has since disappeared. Bologna testified that he did not see anyone else in the car during the shooting.

Outside the courtroom, Ramos' Defense Attorney Marla Zamora explained why her client changed his story to ABC.

"Would you want to take the rap for this horrible crime that you didn't do?" she argued. "That you didn't know it was going to occur even and be left holding the bag?"

Ramos is being charged with three counts of murder, gang membership and illegal use of a firearm, and faces life in prison without parole. He has pled not guilty.

The case has become especially high-profile in San Francisco not only because of its extremely violent nature, but also because it highlights the city's sanctuary ordinance. In San Francisco, the law prohibits city employees from helping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with immigration investigations or arrests unless such help is required by federal or state law or a warrant.

The Huffington Post reported:

Even though Ramos had been in and out of the California penal system for much of his teenage years, San Francisco authorities never turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement due a 1989 decision by the Board of Supervisors declaring San Francisco a "sanctuary city" for undocumented immigrants. Under such policy, local law enforcement is prohibited from turning undocumented immigrants in to authorities at the point of their arrest.

Many in law enforcement, such as former SFPD chief and current District Attorney George Gascon, support "sanctuary city" policies because they allow local police departments to maintain better relationships with communities comprised with high concentrations of undocumented immigrants.

The law was later amended in 1992 to allow the city to contact federal immigration officials in the case of an undocumented immigrant committing a felony; however, a loophole was left open for people under the age of 18, which is how Ramos was able to stay in the country after his two teenage assaults.

After the incident, Danielle Bologna unsuccessfully attempted to sue the City of San Francisco over its sanctuary city policy. In an exclusive profile and interview, San Francisco magazine detailed Bologna's personal struggle and the lawsuit that placed her squarely in the center of a heated political battle.

For more information about the trial, take a look at ABC's video below:

Comments

[Ridetosturgis]

07:31 AM on 01/27/2012

The people that are responsible for passing the sanctuary ordinance that ultimately allowed these murders to happen are the people who should have suffered these murders. How in the hell do you pass a law that provides sanctuary for people that are here illegally? As I understand it, the law says if you come here illegally and then comitt illegal acts while you are here, that is ok because we will give you sanctuary. It is so nice that local government officials elected by the people and entrusted by the people to run the system properly, are the ones protecting and giving sanctuary to the criminals that are murdering the people. Can our system get any more ludicrous?

[lofttypeofaview]

04:58 AM on 01/27/2012

Whether foreign or national, alien or citizen; we should remember that all walks of life create both evil and righteous, assailants and victims. While criminal elements should be separated from the law abiding, keep in mind that collective punishment against a classification of people, who are humane is inhumane. Unfortunately we don't always know who is or isn't a perpetrator until they victimize. However once we do, we are to then ensure that they aren't ever able to prey upon innocence again.

[tccat4]

03:35 AM on 01/27/2012

When is the maddness going to end, how many gang members illegal in this country are taken in and sent back? When there is no one left to kill, and the only ones left are murderers.

[hair2222]

03:23 AM on 01/27/2012

Are you kidding me?

[Alices Amanita]

01:50 AM on 01/27/2012

I have an issue with illegal immigrants. If you cannot come through the front door, then get out. I also hate the fact that the majority of the time, we can have illegal rapists and murderers here...they do their thing, then disappear into the safety of their government. I do not like having to pay so much to keep them in jail, either. This is just such a cluster**** all together. Aside from that...this is a terrible tragedy. My heart goes out to the brother who survived...such a shame.

[dbrett480]

12:54 AM on 01/27/2012

Who is to thank for this?

The current attorney general (and former San Francisco DA) Kamala Harris. She had the lowest conviction rate of any DA in the state, and still managed to get elected. At a time when more and more felons are being released and less and less parole/probation officers are supervising them, she cuts funding to task forces that crack down on gangs and violent repeat offenders. We will have many more Edwin Ramoses with Kamala Harris in charge.

[noodles865]

11:57 PM on 01/26/2012

As a Democrat you may think we are all supposed want to save all the illegals not me.I believe if you dont come in the front door they need to be kicked out of this country.this cities policy contributed to the murder of these three men,I dont understand how they were not successful in their law suite in fact they should have been prosecuted as well.this angers me so much and i am so tired of hearing this kind of crime.when someone talks about illegals we are shown the people want to work thats bull just as with any culture there are bad people,we dont need other countries bad we have our own.

[Behaviour Problem]

11:55 PM on 01/26/2012

At least Mexico isn't full of black gangs, LOL! Huhuhuh! Is it that white people can't live without all the others plauging and jumping in crying racism? What are we going to do!?

[Sarge617]

11:23 PM on 01/26/2012

I don't know the manner of execution in CA, but he needs it.....

[Dalvin]

11:10 PM on 01/26/2012

In 16 years his attorney will say the eye witness was unreliable as he ducked down in the car to save his life and Ramos will be declared innocent and given $25 million for being wrongfullky incarcerated. Does this soubnd familiar?

[anilimili]

10:50 PM on 01/26/2012

And why is he in US jails on the US's (that's me and you) dime?
It is bad enough that as a repeat offender he was nontheless allowed to stay in the US (when a lot of good people who never broke the law and who entered here LEGALLY but were later stranded here because of unscrupulous immigration lawyers mishandling their papers, get deported and face difficulty getting entry visas later on). To have him stay here NOW, in the relative safety and relative good terms of the US jails (no walk in the park, the jails are, I'm sure, but why on my dime?); is doubly insulting.
I'm all for considering SOME aspects of immigration reform--especially for those who entered legally and have not broken the law and are still facing difficult odds getting Green Cards because of so many who try to trick the system--but to hold on to murderers is just insanity.
Why do we need to feed and clothe him and keep him warm and clean?

As for the survivor who testified--good for him for having the courage to do so, and to face the man who destroyed his family and should never have been allowed to be in the US to begin with. I hope that Andrew Bologna finds more healing and closure and that his other loved ones close ranks around him to support him through this difficult time.

Ramos? a jail in his country of origin makes more sense.

[hman570]

09:36 PM on 01/26/2012

Another illegal that the Tax Payers will have to keep for the rest of his worthess life. Instead of keeping him in jail he shold be exacutied for his crimes. If we don't do something about the illegals soon we will all be speaking Spanish. This is America we speak English only our politicians don't feel this way as they are voters for them to keep their seats.

[deejhw]

01:47 AM on 01/27/2012

Can you say "Americo"?

[buccaneerjdp23]

01:55 AM on 01/27/2012

well said.

[twingit]

09:31 PM on 01/26/2012

I live in this once great state. I am offering bus fare to illegals who would like a ride up to San Francisco. If they want a sanctuary city, I say move there. Please do not send me another sob story about the kids. I think more of these stories need to be told. Let us help Mexico and make it great so that we do not have this problem. They are our neighbors.

[calcontractor10]

10:17 PM on 01/26/2012

Great idea, Let all the Mexican criminals have sanctuary in San Francisco so Americans can vacation safely in Mexico. How smart is that...........

[lawofthelion]

09:29 PM on 01/26/2012

You were the driver! acessary to the crime fry baby fry

[sgrimes889]

08:25 PM on 01/26/2012

I wouldn't live in that disgusting city or state. They protect illegal rapists and murderers. God forbid that a citizen needs help or protection. Protect the illegal at all costs and deny the victims the right to sue the city who is protecting the perps. What a disgusting place to live or be anywhere near.