On Friday morning’s The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 am to 8:00 am – Leahy welcomed Steve Ronnebeck, Angel Dad of AngelFamilies.org and the father of a son who was shot point-blank at a Quick Trip in Mason, Arizona because he counted the change of an illegal alien looking to purchase cigarettes.
Nearing the end of the segment, Ronnebeck disclosed a new trend in laws that defends illegal aliens arrested for crimes of having an ‘intellectual disability.’
Leahy: We are joined now on the line by Steve Ronnebeck. He’s an Angel Dad and I believe Steve you’re going to be part of the Angel Families national tour coming here to Nashville next Saturday at 2 pm at the Picadilly Cafeteria. I’ll be the MC of that event. Welcome to the Tennessee Star, Steve.
Ronnebeck: Thank you so much, sir.
Leahy: Are you a part of this national tour that’s coming into Nashville?
Ronnebeck: I am.
Leahy: Great.
Ronnebeck: This is actually an idea between MaryAnn and I.
Leahy: And Mary Ann is the co-founder of the Angel Families group correct?
Ronnebeck: That is correct.
Leahy: You are also on the advisory board of WeBuildthewall.com. That’s the effort started by triple amputee veteran Brian Kolfage and that our friend Steve Bannon is part of. You know Steve I’m sure.
Ronnebeck: I do.
Leahy: Great guy. But tell us about your story. You tragically lost your son in 2015. How did that happen and what have you done since? What did it mean to your life?
Ronnebeck: Well on January 22nd, 2015 Grant was working the overnight shift at a Quick Trip here in Mason, Arizona. An illegal alien came in and wanted to buy cigarettes. He dumped a jar of change out on the counter and Grant went to start counting the change. This man said, “What? You’re not going to give me cigarettes?”
And Grant tried to explain, “Hey, I have to count your change.” This man pulled a gun. Grant did everything he was supposed to do. Handed over the cigarettes and as soon as he did this man shot Grant point-blank in the face. He then went around the counter, stepped over Grant. Grabbed a couple more packs of cigarettes and pretty much calmly walked out the door.
Leahy: An illegal alien?
Ronnebeck: Yes, sir.
Leahy: And what became of this illegal alien who murdered your son in cold blood in 2015?
Ronnebeck: He was caught. Probably about a half-hour later he led the police on a 26-mile high-speed chase. He’s in jail now. We’re still awaiting trial. One of the things that I’d love your listeners to know is that a lot of these illegal aliens because of Grant’s killer are starting to use ‘intellectual disability’ as a means to get their charges lessened or in some cases dropped when they commit crimes. They’re trying to claim that they’re not smart enough to understand what they’ve done wrong.
Leahy: So, let me understand this. Your son was murdered in cold blood at a convenience store in Mason, Arizona in January of 2015. Is that correct?
Ronnebeck: That’s correct.
Leahy: Ok, and now we’re four and a half years later and the illegal alien who murdered your son has not come to trial yet. Is that correct?
Ronnebeck: That is correct.
Leahy: What is taking so long?
Ronnebeck: Well because Arizona is a death penalty state. They have all the hearings and so on and so forth to decide if he’s worthy of the death penalty. And again he’s claimed ‘intellectual disability’ and we had a judge that ruled in his favor and said that he was intellectually disabled.
Leahy: You had a judge who ruled in favor of an illegal alien who murdered your son in cold blood. Do we have that right?
Ronnebeck: That’s correct.
Leahy: When did this happen? The judge’s ruling?
Ronnebeck: About three months ago.
Leahy: You’re kidding me?
Ronnebeck: No. We spent a year on the action here on the determination of ‘intellectual disability.’ We spent a year waiting for this ruling.
Leahy: So what happens next?
Ronnebeck: Well, the prosecution has petitioned the Arizona supreme court to overturn the ruling so that we can get the death penalty reinstated and then hopefully we’re going to go to trial.
Leahy: Let me ask you this. Do you feel comfortable in the vigor with which the prosecutors in Arizona are pursuing this case?
Ronnebeck: Oh, I am. They’re doing a great job. They’re doing everything that they can to get justice for my family and justice for Grant. Again it’s just the political era in our country and the left wants open borders. And I’m sure you’ve seen what happened to Kate Steinle’s killer. That man walked free a short time ago.
Leahy: Because apparently the courts bend over backward to help illegal aliens who kill American citizens. But really don’t do a lot to provide justice to the families of those American citizen children. Great kids that have been killed by illegal aliens. How do you feel about that Steve?
Ronnebeck: Oh, I’m angry. I am so angry. You know we’re expected to see over a million illegal aliens cross our southern border this year alone. They get free handouts. They get free medical. They get free. Everything is free. And it’s gotten to a point where this is a price that the American people are going to have a hard time paying. If the left get’s their wish and they get free Medicare for all these illegal aliens.
The first year alone we’re going to be looking at over three trillion dollars of taxpayer money. When we have homeless veterans that can’t even get proper medical care. We have homeless American citizens that don’t qualify or don’t get these same handouts. Our American citizens are suffering while these illegal aliens are being thrown the red carpet. Last year there were 186 billion dollars and that doesn’t even account for all the costs.
Leahy: So Steve and a couple of other Angel Parents are going on a nationwide tour to raise awareness about this issue. And it’s a seven-city tour. You’re going to be here in Nashville and I’m going to MC this event. It’s Saturday, September 21 at the Picadilly Cafeteria. So you’ll be able then to join us and tell us what folks can do to help you. Is that right?
Ronnebeck: That is correct sir.
Listen to the full hour:
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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 am to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Photo “Steve Ronnebeck” by Fox News.Â
