Cash App founder stabbed – latest: Bob Lee argued over Nima Momeni’s sister before murder, court told

Nima Momeni was arrested on Thursday – one week after Cash App owner Bob Lee was discovered in the Rincon Hill area of San Francisco after being fatally stabbed

Bob Lee, former Square chief technology officer and Cash App founder, killed in San Francisco

Cash app founder Bob Lee was allegedly stabbed following an argument about his suspected killer’s sister, according to court papers.

Nima Momeni, 38, is accused of stabbing the 43-year-old tech executive three times with a four-inch kitchen knife, including twice in the chest, the documents state, according to NBC News.

Prosecutors say that at some point during the incident, Mr Momeni’s sister sent a text to Lee, which stated, “Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you.”

Nima Momeni appeared in court for the first time on Friday after the case sparked a furious debate about public safety in San Francisco.

The suspect was wearing an orange sweatshirt and sweatpants as his sister and another woman held up their hands in the shape of a heart as the suspect smiled at them.

“The facts will come out, what’s basically in the press is inaccurate,” Mr Momeni’s stand-in lawyer told the press.

In a press conference announcing Mr Momeni’s arrest for murder on Thursday, San Francisco officials confirmed that the two men knew each other but declined to provide details.

Lee’s family friend later told The San Francisco Chronicle that the two tech executives are thought to have known each other through Mr Momeni’s sister, who Lee had recently gotten to know.

The two men were hanging out together on the night of the fatal stabbing, the friend said.

Key Points

• Suspect reported to have asked neighbour for alcohol on night of stabbing
• Momeni left Iran with mother sometime after 1979 Iranian revolution
• PR executive says suspect was a ‘very nice, welcoming guy'
• Woman entered apartment building and screamed suspect’s name night before stabbing
• Cash app founder’s murder suspect smiles at family in first court appearance

[16 April 2023 14:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Bob Lee, Nima Momeni, and Momeni’s sister argued around the time he was killed

Prosecutors revealed that Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, had been arguing with fellow tech executive Nima Momeni before his death.

A text message from Mr Momeni’s sister was found on Bob Lee’s phone around the time of his death. In the message she thanks him for being a “classy man” and apologises for her brother apparently being hard on him.

“Just wanted to make sure your doing ok Cause I know nima came wayyyyyy down hard on you And thank you for being such a classy |man handling it with class Love you Selfish pricks.”

Witnesses told investigators that Mr Nomeni had allegedly asked Mr Lee if Ms Nomeni had been “doing drugs or anything inappropriate” at a party the night before the murder.

Mr Nomeni has been arrested on suspicion of killing Mr Lee.

[16 April 2023 17:43 · Graig Graziosi]

Attorney for Nima Momeni insists romance had nothing to do with Bob Lee’s death

The attorney representing Nima Momeni, the tech executive accused of killing Cash App founder Bob Lee, said that romance did contribute to the conflict between the men.

Investigators revealed that Mr Momeni had questioned Mr Lee about his sister’s behavior at a party. The same sister texted Mr Lee around the time of his death asking if he was ok and noting that her brother “came wayyyyyy down hard” on the Cash App founder.

Paula Canny, Mr Momeni’s attorney, said that romance did not factor into the dispute between the men, and insisted prosecutors brought charges against her client without proof of premeditation or malice.

[16 April 2023 19:51 · Graig Graziosi]

Prosecutors claim Nima Momeni planned to kill Cash App founder Bob Lee

Prosecutors claim that Nima Momeni, the man accused of killing Cash App founder Bob Lee, planned the attack.

Mr Momeni’s attorney has rejected those claims and said the prosecutors have not produced evidence suggesting there was intent or malice behind the attack.

A text message from Mr Nomeni’s sister discovered on Mr Lee’s phone suggests the men had an argument shortly before Mr Lee’s death.

[17 April 2023 00:00 · Graig Graziosi]

‘Bob loved being in San Francisco, and San Francisco loved Bob’

Lee’s brother, Tim Oliver Lee, posted on Facebook the family’s gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department for catching the suspect. Tim Lee said his brother dreamed of making technology accessible to all and that he made friends from all walks of life.

“Bob loved being in San Francisco, and San Francisco loved Bob. Walking down the street would sometimes be difficult because every young person with a dream would search him out, and he would make time for every one,” his brother wrote.

After Lee’s killing, prominent tech leaders, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, took to Twitter to mourn Lee’s death and blame San Francisco for what they called the city’s lax attitude toward crime.

Musk tweeted at Jenkins, saying that crime in San Francisco is “horrific” and that even when attackers are caught, they are often immediately released.

Mayor London Breed and other top city officials have pushed against that narrative and on Thursday, Jenkins addressed Musk directly.

“I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lee’s death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco,” Jenkins said.

[17 April 2023 01:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Suspect in Cash App founder Bob Lee’s deadly stabbing has prior knife arrest

The suspect in the deadly stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee has previously been arrested for a knife offence.

Police in San Francisco arrested tech executive Nima Momeni on Thursday at about 5am.

Mr Momeni, 38, allegedly stabbed the 43-year-old after being involved in an altercation while driving in San Francisco’s Rincon Hill early on 4 April.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott confirmed Mr Momeni had been charged with one count of murder at a press conference on Thursday.

The suspect was arrested without incident at an address in Emeryville, a city in the Bay Area, early on Thursday.

[17 April 2023 02:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Suspect in Cash App founder killing makes court appearance

The 38-year-old tech consultant charged with the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee made his first appearance in a San Francisco courtroom Friday but did not enter a plea.

Nima Momeni, who police say knew Lee, is now scheduled to be arraigned April 25.

The judge ordered Momeni held in jail without bail, as requested by San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. He faces 26 years to life in prison, the prosecutor’s office said.

Momeni appeared in court in an orange sweatshirt and pants. He did not speak except to say, “Yes your honor,” when the judge asked if he agreed to decline his right to a speedy trial.

He is represented by Burlingame attorney Paula Canny, who is on vacation and whose brother Robert Canny, also an attorney, appeared in her place Friday. “The facts of what occurred, or didn’t occur, will come out over time,” he told reporters after the hearing.

Momeni’s sister, Khazar Elyassnia, and her husband Dino Elyassnia, a San Francisco plastic surgeon, along with two family members, sat in the front row at the hearing. When Momeni entered the courtroom, an older woman made a heart sign with her hands and Momeni, who was wearing a face mask, smiled and nodded at them.

[17 April 2023 03:00 · Graig Graziosi]

VIDEO: Cash App founder Bob Lee and stabbing suspect Nima Momeni knew each other

[17 April 2023 04:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Nima Momeni: Who is the tech executive arrested for murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee?

Police in San Francisco arrested tech executive Nima Momeni on Thursday for the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee.

Mr Momeni, 38, allegedly stabbed the 43-year-old after being involved in an altercation while driving in San Francisco’s Rincon Hill early on 4 April.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott confirmed Mr Momeni had been charged with one count of murder at a press conference on Thursday.

The suspect was arrested without incident at an address in Emeryville, a city in the Bay Area, early on Thursday.

The Mission Local news site was the first to report the arrest, and said that the pair were known to each other.

[17 April 2023 04:59 · Graig Graziosi]

What we know about the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee

High-profile tech entrepreneur Bob Lee was stabbed to death outside a luxury apartment building in San Francisco in the early hours of 4 April.

The 43-year-old was found at 2.35am outside a luxury high rise apartment on the 300 block of Main St, near Rincon Hill and the Bay Bridge, with life-threatening stab wounds, the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement.

The tech executive was treated at the scene by first responders before being rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

Police arrested fellow tech executive Nima Momeni on 13 April in connection with the killing and he was booked into the San Francisco Sheriff’s Jail. The reported arrest has yet to be officially confirmed by the San Francisco Police Department.

Here’s what we know so far about the murder:

[17 April 2023 06:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Cash app founder’s murder suspect smiles at family in first court appearance

The suspect in the murder Cash app founder Bob Lee smiled at his family in his first court appearance.

Police in San Francisco arrested tech executive Nima Momeni on Thursday.

Mr Momeni, 38, allegedly stabbed the 43-year-old after being involved in an altercation while driving in San Francisco’s Rincon Hill area early on 4 April.

San Francisco Police Chief William Scott confirmed Mr Momeni had been charged with one count of murder at a press conference on Thursday.

The suspect was arrested without incident at an address in Emeryville, a city in the Bay Area, early on Thursday.