San Francisco police have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Police arrested Emeryville resident Nima Momeni for allegedly stabbing Lee twice in the chest on April 4, leaving a trail of blood on the sidewalk in San Francisco’s wealthy Rincon Hill neighborhood.
Bob Lee was known for his leadership role at Square and for working on the team that launched Google’s Android operating system. Momeni has been charged with murder and booked into San Francisco County Jail. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins will be prosecuting the case. Police Chief Bill Scott told reporters that the victim and the accused killer knew each other, but no other details have been provided.
Mayor London Breed commended law enforcement for their work and handling of the case appropriately. However, Jenkins criticized “reckless and irresponsible statements” on social media, including a post from Twitter owner Elon Musk that “serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime.”
Momeni, who previously described himself in a LinkedIn profile as an information technology consultant and entrepreneur for a company called Expand IT, was not immediately available for comment, and it is unclear whether he has a lawyer.
According to Alameda County court records, in 2011, Momeni was charged with allegedly selling a switchblade knife and driving with a suspended license, both misdemeanors. He pleaded no contest to the suspended license charge the following year, and the knife charge was dismissed.
He was sentenced to 10 days in jail as well as three years of probation, fined more than $900, and ordered to destroy the knife. Additionally, Momeni was charged with a misdemeanor in 2004 for allegedly driving while intoxicated.
The Arrest of Nima Momeni
Police approached Momeni’s home at the Besler Building in Emeryville, a former steam-car manufacturing plant converted to live-work lofts, at 5:05 a.m. Thursday, according to neighbors. Chris Donatiello, who lives a floor above the building’s entrance on Harlan Street, said he awoke to a bellow over loudspeakers, saying, “We have a warrant for your arrest, come out with your hands up.” Donatiello knew Momeni from brief encounters at the Besler and characterized him as “a super nice guy.”
Another resident, who withheld his name citing privacy concerns, said Momeni had come to his door the night of the incident, asking for alcohol. It wasn’t clear if the neighbor met with Momeni before or after the slaying.
The neighbor declined to answer further questions. At least one Besler resident complained to the Homeowners’ Association about a disturbance on April 3, the day before the killing, in which a woman knocked on neighbors’ doors sometime before 4 a.m., shouting Momeni’s name.
Sam Singer, a public affairs consultant who recently opened an office next door to Momeni’s second-floor loft, recalled a similarly pleasant interaction with him. He remembered how Momeni popped into his office, admired the space, and offered information technology services should Singer’s company ever need them.
Akash Sawhney met Momeni in 2015 while working for Outward, a startup that had hired Momeni to set up its information technology network. Like others, Sawhney had positive impressions of Momeni, who he said was “super helpful” and displayed no red flags or flashes of anger. The two men connected over religion after Sawhney learned that Momeni was Zoroastrian—a member of the ancient monotheistic religion that originated in Iran.
Rising Concerns of Crime in San Francisco
However, critics of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) have been vocal in their concerns about the department’s handling of violent crimes in the city, particularly in the downtown area. Some have pointed to a lack of police presence and an inability to solve cases quickly.
The murder of Bob Lee had sent shockwaves through the tech community and beyond, with many expressing concern about the rising tide of crime in San Francisco. In the wake of the arrest, some were relieved that justice was being served, while others remained skeptical of the police department’s ability to address the root causes of crime in the city.
Mayor Breed, who has faced criticism for her handling of the city’s homelessness crisis and other issues, expressed gratitude to the SFPD for their work on the case, while also acknowledging that there was more work to be done to address the underlying causes of crime.
“This arrest is an important step in bringing justice for Bob Lee and his family,” she said in a statement. “But we know that this is just one case, and there are many others who have been affected by crime in our city. We need to continue working together to address the root causes of crime, and to ensure that every resident of San Francisco feels safe and secure.”
District Attorney Jenkins echoed the mayor’s sentiments, emphasizing the need for collaboration and community engagement in addressing crime in San Francisco.
“This case is a reminder that we must all work together to prevent violence and ensure that justice is served,” she said in a statement. “We cannot solve this problem alone. We need the help and support of the entire community.”
As the investigation into Bob Lee’s murder continues, many in San Francisco and beyond are grappling with the complex and troubling issues of crime, violence, and community safety. The arrest of Nima Momeni may provide some measure of closure for Lee’s family and loved ones, but it will not solve the deeper problems that plague the city.
As Mayor Breed noted, the city must continue to work together to address the root causes of crime and to ensure that every resident of San Francisco feels safe and secure. Only by working together and engaging in honest, open dialogue can the city begin to make progress toward a safer and more just future.
The Tragic Death of Bob Lee
Bob Lee, a native of Portland, Oregon, had been living in San Francisco since 2009. He had co-founded the mobile payment app Square with former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, serving as its chief technology officer until 2013, when he left to pursue other projects, including the launch of Cash App. Lee’s death reverberated throughout the tech community, with many offering condolences and expressing shock.
The killing occurred in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, an area that has seen a spike in crime over the past year, particularly in the form of violent assaults and burglaries. The incident fueled concerns among residents and business owners about the safety of the city’s downtown area, which has struggled with crime and homelessness for years.
Bob Lee is survived by his wife and two children. His family has requested privacy in the wake of his death and has not yet released a statement regarding the arrest.
The San Francisco Police Department has not released any further information about the case, citing the ongoing investigation. The department has asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward and share what they know.
The arrest of Momeni has brought some closure to the tech community and the city as a whole, which has been reeling from a surge in crime over the past year. Many hope that the incident will serve as a wake-up call to city leaders and prompt them to take action to address the underlying issues that have contributed to the rise in crime.
For now, the city remains on edge, with many residents and business owners feeling uncertain about the future. However, the arrest of Lee’s killer has offered a glimmer of hope that justice will be served and that the community will be able to heal in the weeks and months to come.