Lee, 43, was a distinguished tech government in Silicon Valley whose loss of life was mourned by different business heavyweights. His killing was additionally been seized on by conservative figures and tech leaders, together with Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who framed Lee’s loss of life as the results of previous progressive prosecutors and insurance policies like bail reform, which they declare are answerable for rising crime, violence and homelessness. In actuality, Momeni and Lee knew one another, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott stated Thursday. Scott didn’t give extra particulars on their relationship.
Right here’s what we all know up to now concerning the suspect:
Momeni, an entrepreneur and tech marketing consultant who lived simply outdoors of San Francisco in close by Emeryville, Calif., spent the final 15 years residing and dealing within the San Francisco Bay Space, based on property and public information.
On the time of Lee’s killing, Momemi listed himself in his LinkedIn profile because the proprietor of Broaden IT, a tech assist and consulting enterprise primarily based in his Emeryville live-work house, since 2010. Broaden IT’s web site has since been taken offline and calls to the corporate searching for touch upon Momeni’s position went unanswered Saturday. His beforehand listed employment on LinkedIn features a string of IT assist and consultancy roles round northern California.
Little else seems in Momeni’s public document other than a number of misdemeanor costs from greater than a decade in the past. In 2011, he was charged in Alameda County, Calif., with allegedly promoting a switchblade knife and driving with a suspended license, the San Francisco Chronicle reviews. He pleaded no contest to the driving offense and the knife cost was dismissed. He additionally confronted a DWI cost in 2004, based on the Chronicle.
Neighbors and previous associates described Momeni as useful and heat, based on the Chronicle.
“I used to be fully stunned once I learn his identify within the information this morning,” Akash Sawhney, who met Momeni in 2015 whereas working for the tech start-up Outward, instructed the Chronicle. “It didn’t appear in character with what he’s accused of doing — a minimum of in my interactions with him.”
Momeni listed a number of faculties in his training historical past, however didn’t specify an space of examine.
What costs is Momeni going through?
Momeni was arrested at his Emeryville live-work house early Thursday and faces a homicide cost, based on the San Francisco District Legal professional’s Workplace. Momeni additionally faces a sentencing enhancement of utilizing a lethal weapon, a kitchen knife, to commit the crime.
If convicted, Momeni might face between 26 years to life in jail. Whereas the loss of life penalty continues to be technically authorized in California for crimes akin to homicide, loss of life sentences are unusual, particularly after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) introduced a moratorium on the loss of life penalty in 2019.
The place was Momeni the evening Lee was killed?
Prosecutors have portrayed Lee’s killing as premeditated, counting on safety digicam footage, textual content messages and the character of the weapon used to make their case towards Momeni. The 2 males met up within the early morning hours of April 4 after Lee had allegedly been consuming earlier that night with Momeni’s youthful sister, Khazar Elyassnia, based on court docket information.
Investigators haven’t detailed how Momeni and Lee have been acquainted, however indicated Lee and Elyassnia have been pleasant. An unnamed witness cited in court docket paperwork who was with Lee and Elyassnia the evening of the killing described her as “married however the relationship had probably been in jeopardy.” The witness indicated that Lee and Elyassnia have been linked however that it was unclear whether or not their relationship was romantic. Lee had not too long ago relocated to Florida however returned to San Francisco typically to go to his two kids.
In a nine-page movement filed Friday, prosecutors allege Momeni drove Lee to a “darkish and secluded space in the wrong way of [Lee’s] lodge.” Safety footage seems to indicate the lads exiting the automobile earlier than Momeni seems to stab Lee, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors additionally indicated Momeni was upset that evening. A witness stated Momeni had questioned whether or not his sister was “doing medicine or something inappropriate.” Lee assured Momeni nothing inappropriate occurred, based on court docket paperwork.
Elyassnia later texted Lee that evening to test on him and thanked him for dealing with the state of affairs “with class,” based on court docket information.
“Simply needed to ensure your doing okay,” she wrote. “Trigger I do know nima got here wayyyyyy down laborious on you.”
Prosecutors underscored Momeni’s alleged use of a kitchen knife to kill Lee as additional proof of a “deliberate and deliberate assault.” Not like a pocket knife or weapon somebody would possibly frequently carry, taking a knife from house would require superior planning, prosecutors say.
What’s subsequent for Momeni?
Momeni will stay in jail till his new arraignment on April 25.
Scott Canny, the brother of Momeni’s lawyer, appeared in his sister’s place on Friday and instructed reporters that Momeni “has family and friends right here in assist” of him. Momeni’s sister, Elyassnia, was amongst his family members who got here to court docket Friday.
Makes an attempt to succeed in Momeni’s family members on Saturday weren’t profitable.
“The details of what occurred, or didn’t happen, will come out over time,” Canny instructed reporters.
Caroline O’Donovan contributed to this report.
