SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Police Chief Invoice on Thursday addressed the investigation into the lethal stabbing that killed MobileCoin CPO Bob Lee, expressing confidence his officers would remedy the murder shortly.
Scott spoke with CBS Information Thursday afternoon in regards to the case that has despatched shockwaves by means of the town and the tech world.
When requested if the assault was focused or random, Scott replied, “It is early to inform. What I’ll inform you is our murder crew is working tirelessly to get this to a decision. We now have lots that is on our plate with this investigation and following up on issues that must be adopted up on. We’ll put the data out however we do not wish to do something to compromise this investigation.”
San Francisco Crime:
Scott maintained that the division has a crew of “very wonderful murder investigators” on the case and touted the division’s clearance fee of 80%-85% on murder circumstances 12 months thus far.
“I’ve 100% confidence on this unit,” Scott mentioned.
When requested about criticism leveled in opposition to San Francisco as a lawless metropolis, Scott was fast to defend his division.
“Let’s take a look at the info. Sure, our murder fee is up another than we had this time final 12 months,” Scott mentioned. “It is nonetheless early within the 12 months. Let’s take a look at the final 5 years. You understand, pre-pandemic — return to 2019 — we have been all the way down to a low in homicides we hadn’t seen because the early ’60s. It has creeped up since then. The pandemic 12 months, I believe throughout the nation we noticed violent crime creep up. So we’re no totally different.
He continued: “Once you have a look at San Francisco’s violent crime fee in comparison with different cities per 100,000 [in population], we’re in the direction of the underside for main cities. That by no means will get talked about. We now have our points with our metropolis. We now have some issues we undoubtedly need to proceed to work on. We now have these photographs that go viral and are posted all around the world coping with drug use and homelessness. These are actual points in our metropolis and we’re addressing that too. However violent crime? We’re not that metropolis.”
Whereas police have launched very restricted info concerning the lethal stabbing, some particulars in regards to the deadly assault that left Lee bleeding from a number of stab wounds on the sidewalk have surfaced.
Officers responded to the 300 block of Fundamental Avenue within the metropolis’s Rincon Hill neighborhood shortly after 2:30 a.m. Tuesday morning after a report of a stabbing, police mentioned of their official launch that got here out Wednesday night.
READ MORE: Memorials, nervousness develop at S.F. Rincon Hill web site of tech govt Bob Lee’s lethal stabbing
MobileCoin
In keeping with the San Francisco Normal, Lee will be heard screaming “Assist! Somebody stabbed me!” within the audio of the 911 name he made along with his mobile phone previous to officers arriving. The San Francisco Normal additionally reported that Lee may very well be seen in surveillance video from an space constructing strolling west up Fundamental Avenue after being mortally injured. The video reportedly confirmed him strolling as much as a parked automobile that had its hazard lights on and lifting his shirt — apparently to point out his wound as he requested for assist — earlier than the automobile drove away.
READ MORE: Slaying of tech exec Bob Lee heightens vigilance in San Francisco’s East Reduce neighborhood
The safety digicam video confirmed him strolling towards the Portside rental complicated and collapsing lower than 20 toes from the entrance door after the automobile drove off. Officers arrived and positioned the stabbing sufferer, who was later recognized because the 43-year-old founding father of Money App and former CEO of Sq.. Officers started life-saving help till medics arrived; Lee died of his accidents on the hospital.
CBS
Police and the town’s health worker’s workplace didn’t initially determine Lee Tuesday night. Mates and associates of confirmed Lee’s loss of life as did MobileCoin, the San Francisco-based cryptocurrency startup.
Lee had moved to Miami late final 12 months however was on the town for the MobileCoin management summit final week, and was staying a couple of nights further to see mates. His father, Rick Lee, posted on social media that the 2 had been dwelling within the San Francisco suburb of Mill Valley.
“Life has been an journey with two bachelors dwelling collectively, and I am so glad that we have been in a position to change into so shut these final years. Bob would provide the shirt off his again,” the publish learn partially. “He would by no means look down on anybody and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy. Bobby labored tougher than anybody and was the neatest individual I’ve ever identified. He shall be missed by all those who knew him.”
San Francisco Crime:
San Francisco has been grappling with an obvious uptick in crime because it nonetheless makes an attempt to bounce again from the pandemic. Preliminary police information stories 12 homicides in San Francisco this 12 months, an uptick of 20% in comparison with the identical time interval within the earlier 12 months. In whole, there have been 56 homicides in San Francisco in 2022, which is the very same variety of homicides the town noticed in 2021.
The deadly stabbing despatched shockwaves by means of San Francisco’s East Reduce, which additionally consists of the realm generally known as Rincon Hill.
Tracy McCray, the vp of the San Francisco Police Officers Affiliation, says violent crime of this nature is uncommon for the East Reduce neighborhood, however provides it may occur wherever.
Officers of the Southern Station are stretched skinny because the SFPD faces extreme staffing shortages, including to the complexity of the investigation.
“They’re quick staffed. And I believe folks neglect that the southern district can be chargeable for Treasure Island, so that they have a a lot bigger footprint, doing extra with much less,” McCray mentioned.
There was a rising memorial paying tribute to Lee the place the lethal crime unfolded close to the intersection of Harrison and Fundamental.
Chris Heimbuch labored with Lee and stopped by to drop off flowers and a handwritten word.
“That smile will stick with me ceaselessly,” Heimbuch mentioned.
Due to this tragedy, Heimbuch says the world has misplaced an amazing chief within the tech business however, most significantly, a loving dad, son and brother.
“That is an emergency that is reached some extent to — what else is that this going to take? And I am not speaking about this horrible homicide. It occurs in all places, all around the metropolis,” Heimbuch mentioned.
