A San Francisco jury convicted Nima Momeni, a tech consultant, of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday after seven days of deliberation, rejected Momeni’s defense of self-defense. Momeni, 40, faces 16 years to life in prison.
On April 4, 2023, Bob Lee, a respected tech mogul and the founder of Cash App, was found staggered and bleeding on a quiet downtown street in San Francisco, desperately seeking help. He later died in the hospital from multiple stab wounds, including a fatal injury to his heart.
“We’re relieved that Nima Momeni will no longer be a threat to anyone,” said Lee’s brother, Tim Oliver Lee. “We believe justice was served today.”
Momeni’s mother, Mahnaz Tayarani, expressed her disbelief and sorrow, tearfully stating that her son is a “kind, loving, and respectful” person, contradicting the portrayal of him in court.
The Prosecution’s Case
Prosecutors argued that Momeni planned the attack. He drove Lee to a secluded area under the Bay Bridge, where he stabbed him three times, including the fatal blow to Lee’s heart, using a knife he took from his sister’s kitchen. The motive, they claimed, stemmed from Momeni’s anger over Lee introducing his younger sister to a drug dealer, who allegedly sexually assaulted her after giving her drugs.
The defense, however, painted a different picture. Momeni testified that Lee attacked him with a knife first, angry after Momeni criticized him for prioritizing partying over family time. Momeni, a martial artist, claimed he didn’t realize Lee was seriously injured and didn’t know he had fatally stabbed him until the next day.
National Attention and Public Safety Debate
Lee’s death sparked a nationwide conversation on public safety in San Francisco, especially after high-profile figures like Elon Musk criticized the city’s violent crime rates. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins emphasized that the verdict proved the killing was not a random act of violence but a targeted crime.
“We are committed to public safety and accountability in San Francisco,” Jenkins said.
Momeni has been in custody since his April 2023 arrest, originally facing first-degree murder charges. The trial, which began in October, attracted significant attention, with family members of both Lee and Momeni attending daily. Lee’s relatives were visibly shaken by autopsy images and the emotional 911 call that played in court.
The Final Moments
The prosecution and defense agreed on the events leading up to the stabbing, but there were no clear witnesses to the confrontation. Surveillance footage captured the two men leaving Khazar Momeni’s apartment around 2 a.m. and getting into Momeni’s BMW. Later, the video showed them getting out of the car near the Bay Bridge, where the stabbing occurred.
The afternoon before the fatal encounter, Lee and Khazar Momeni had been drinking and using drugs at a drug dealer’s apartment. Momeni’s sister had confided in him that she had been assaulted by the dealer. Later, he confronted Lee over the phone, accusing him of involvement in the incident.
Afterward, surveillance video showed the two men leaving the condo. Momeni claimed he stopped the car after hitting a pothole, causing Lee’s beer to spill. He then joked about Lee spending time with family, which Momeni said prompted Lee to lash out and attack him with a knife.
“I was scared for my life,” Momeni testified, though his story was met with skepticism. Prosecutors pointed out that Momeni never contacted the police, even after learning that Lee had died from his injuries.
The Verdict and Future Proceedings
The jury ultimately convicted Momeni of second-degree murder, which does not require proof of premeditation, unlike first-degree murder. Jurors did not speak to the press after the verdict.
Momeni’s defense team, which included five attorneys, expressed disappointment and indicated they would consider an appeal.
Lee’s Legacy
Bob Lee, who had recently relocated to Miami, was known for creating Cash App, a widely used mobile payment service, and for his role as the Chief Product Officer at cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. He had returned to California for a visit when tragedy struck.
This high-profile trial highlighted not only the details of a fatal confrontation but also broader debates on crime, accountability, and the safety of those who shape the tech world.
