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
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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.
Who is Nima Momeni?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Momeni lives in Emeryville, in the Bay Area, and is the owner of Expand IT.
Expand IT describes itself as a “one-stop technology and security provider” for enterprise software companies.
Mr Momeni said on the profile that he had worked as a “dedicated technology partner” supporting clients in healthcare, finance, and startups at several tech firms in the Bay Area and San Jose.
He attended the University of California, Berkeley, and is fluent in English and Farsi, the profile states, but a university spokesperson told The San Franisco Chroniclethat they have no record of anyone attending under his name.
Other educational instutions listed by Mr Momeni include Laney College and Vista College.
Started IT career in 2005
He began his IT career in 2005, initially as a network engineer at Marfic Technologies, and subsequently at Coast Range Technologies, according to The Chronicle.
He worked as a consultant for a number of years before launching Expand IT in 2010.
A search of property records showed Mr Momeni owns an apartment at 4053 Harlan St in Emeryville that he purchased for $525,000 in 2020.
Mr Momeni was arrested at the address in Emeryville at around 5am on 13 April.
Shocked residents reported seeing a large number of police officers outside the address, according to KCBS.
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 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.
Read more:
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.
Woman entered apartment building and screamed suspect’s name night before stabbing
On the night before Lee’s death, a woman entered the building where Mr Momeni lived at 2.30am and began screaming his name, residents told The Los Angeles Times.
The woman left when neighbours threatened to phone police, according to posts on a building social media group. It’s unclear if this incident was connected to Lee’s death.
VIDEO: Cash App founder Bob Lee and stabbing suspect Nima Momeni knew each other
PR executive says suspect was a ‘very nice, welcoming guy'
Sam Singer, a San Francisco area PR executive, had an office next to the suspected killer and said the arrest had come as a shock.
Mr Singer described Mr Momeni as a “very nice, welcoming guy” in comments to KTVU.
Mr Singer was invited into Mr Momeni’s home, telling The Chronicle that he found Mr Momeni to be “warm”. Afterwards, Mr Momeni handed Mr Singer some business cards, offering his services.
VIDEO: SF district attorney announces arrest in Bob Lee death and blasts critics
Momeni left Iran with mother sometime after 1979 Iranian revolution
Mr Momeni had resided in California for much of the past 20 years at addresses in downtown San Francisco, Emeryville and San Jose.
A family friend of Lee said he and Mr Momeni were hanging out in the hours leading up to Lee’s death, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. They may have met via Mr Momeni’s sister, whom Lee had recently met.
Akash Sawhney met Mr Momeni when he hired him in 2015 at a start-up.
“I was completely taken aback,” he said about the news of Mr Momeni’s arrest. “It didn’t seem in character with what he’s accused of doing, at least in my interactions with him.”
Mr Momeni was “super helpful,” Mr Sawhney said of their time together at the company. “I didn’t see any signs of anger, any red flags, at that point.”
Mr Sawhney said Mr Momeni was Zoroastrian – part of an ancient monotheistic religion with its roots in Iran.
A family friend told the outlet that Mr Momeni came to the US from Iran with his mother sometime after the Iranian revolution in 1979.
Some Zoroastrians fled persecution and settled in India, where Mr Sawhney grew up. Mr Momeni had appeared grateful for speaking to someone who was aware of his faith, Mr Sawhney said, according to The Chronicle.
VIDEO: Suspect in Cash App founder Bob Lee's death ID'ed as tech exec Nima Momeni
Suspect reported to have asked neighbour for alcohol on night of stabbing
One person speaking to The Chronicle, who requested to remain anonymous, said Mr Momeni came to his home on the night of Lee’s death and asked for alcohol. It was unclear if this took place before or after Lee was stabbed.
A neighbour told Forbes that Mr Momeni had asked if they wanted to join him on a trip to Colombia, and others said he was an entrepreneur who worked late nights and liked boats, cars, and women.
Neighbours told The Daily Beast that Mr Momeni was also interested in knives and guns.
Police haven’t said if they obtained any weapons when they searched his property.
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