San Francisco Police Chief Releases Statement After Cash App Founder Bob Lee Stabbed to Death

A view of the venue during the Afterpay, Cash App & TIDAL Front Row to NYFW Party in New York on Sept. 13, 2022. Anna Webber/Getty Images for Afterpay

The San Francisco police chief has released a statement following the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee in the city on April 4.

Lee, 43, was found by officers in the early hours of Tuesday morning suffering from apparent stab wounds and transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD).

Despite efforts by first responders and medical personnel, the tech executive succumbed to his injuries, police said.

In a statement on Wednesday, SFPD Chief Bill Scott said Lee’s death is being investigated by the homicide team.

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Lee. There is no place for this kind of violent crime against anyone in our city,” Scott said.

“I want to assure everyone that our investigators are working tirelessly to make an arrest and bring justice to Mr. Lee and his loved ones, just as we try to do on every homicide that occurs in our city,” he continued.

Scott added that the investigation into Lee’s death is still in the early stages.

‘Horrific Crime’

“Because of this, we are not commenting on evidence, nor will we speculate on the circumstances surrounding this horrific crime. Although we will commit the necessary resources and personnel to this investigation, I want to assure everyone in San Francisco that our department is staffed and ready to respond to all calls for service,” the SFPD chief said.

Police said they responded to a report of a stabbing in the city’s downtown Rincon Hill neighborhood, located just outside the financial district, at 2:35 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Lee was last seen on surveillance video walking down an empty sidewalk in the city in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday gripping his side with one hand and holding his cellphone in the other before collapsing, according to The San Francisco Standard.

He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.

Police have not announced any arrests or identified any suspects in the case.

In addition to creating the mobile payment service Cash App, Lee was the former chief technology officer of the payments platform Square, later renamed Block.

Tributes Pour In for Tech Exec

He previously worked at Google where he managed Android’s core library team and launched the world’s most-used operating system before joining the San Francisco-based cryptocurrency company MobileCoin in November 2021, where he had been serving as chief product officer.

MobileCoin confirmed his death in a statement on Wednesday, calling him a “dear friend and colleague” who is “survived by a loving family and collection of close friends and collaborators.”

Lee’s father, Rick Lee, also paid tribute to his son in a lengthy Facebook post on Wednesday, writing that his son “would give you the shirt off his back” and “would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy.”

“I just lost my best friend, my son Bob Lee when he lost his life on the street in San Francisco early Tuesday Morning. I moved to Mill Valley, CA with Bob after his mother died in 2019 and we recently relocated to Miami in Oct 2022,” he wrote.

“Life has been an adventure with two bachelors living together, and I’m so happy that we were able to become so close these last years,” his father wrote. “Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known. He will be missed by all those that knew him. Thank you to those who have reached out in support.”