Lee, 43, was a distinguished tech govt in Silicon Valley whose dying 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 dying 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 mentioned Thursday. Scott didn’t give extra particulars on their relationship.
Right here’s what we all know up to now in regards to the suspect:
Momeni, an entrepreneur and tech marketing consultant who lived simply exterior of San Francisco in close by Emeryville, Calif., spent the final 15 years dwelling and dealing within the San Francisco Bay Space, in response to property and public information.
On the time of Lee’s killing, Momemi listed himself in his LinkedIn profile because the proprietor of Develop IT, a tech help and consulting enterprise primarily based in his Emeryville live-work house, since 2010. Develop IT’s web site has since been taken offline and calls to the corporate in search of touch upon Momeni’s function went unanswered Saturday. His beforehand listed employment on LinkedIn features a string of IT help and consultancy roles round northern California.
Little else seems in Momeni’s public document aside from a number of misdemeanor prices 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, in response to the Chronicle.
Neighbors and previous associates described Momeni as useful and heat, in response to the Chronicle.
“I used to be utterly 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 — at the very least in my interactions with him.”
Momeni listed a number of colleges in his training historical past, however didn’t specify an space of examine.
What prices is Momeni dealing with?
Momeni was arrested at his Emeryville live-work house early Thursday and faces a homicide cost, in response to 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 may face between 26 years to life in jail. Whereas the dying penalty continues to be technically authorized in California for crimes comparable to homicide, dying sentences are unusual, particularly after Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) introduced a moratorium on the dying penalty in 2019.
The place was Momeni the night time Lee was killed?
Prosecutors have portrayed Lee’s killing as premeditated, counting on safety digital camera footage, textual content messages and the character of the weapon used to make their case in opposition to 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, in response to courtroom information.
Investigators haven’t detailed how Momeni and Lee had been acquainted, however indicated Lee and Elyassnia had been pleasant. An unnamed witness cited in courtroom paperwork who was with Lee and Elyassnia the night time of the killing described her as “married however the relationship had presumably been in jeopardy.” The witness indicated that Lee and Elyassnia had been related however that it was unclear whether or not their relationship was romantic. Lee had just lately 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 other way of [Lee’s] resort.” Safety footage seems to indicate the boys exiting the car earlier than Momeni seems to stab Lee, prosecutors say.
Prosecutors additionally indicated Momeni was upset that night time. A witness mentioned Momeni had questioned whether or not his sister was “doing medication or something inappropriate.” Lee assured Momeni nothing inappropriate occurred, in response to courtroom paperwork.
Elyassnia later texted Lee that night time to examine on him and thanked him for dealing with the state of affairs “with class,” in response to courtroom information.
“Simply needed to verify 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.” In contrast to a pocket knife or weapon somebody would possibly commonly 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 help” of him. Momeni’s sister, Elyassnia, was amongst his kin who got here to courtroom Friday.
Makes an attempt to achieve Momeni’s kin 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.
