San Francisco Prosecutors Will Not Pursue Charges Against Walgreens Security Guard in Fatal Shooting

A Walgreens in downtown San Francisco on May 3, 2023. Jason Blair/The Epoch Times

The San Francisco District Attorney has announced that murder charges will not be filed against a Walgreens security guard in a fatal shooting that happened at a downtown San Francisco Walgreens.

District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced on Twitter on the evening of May 1: “The killing of Banko Brown was a tragedy & my heart breaks for his friends & family. After careful review, we are not pursuing murder charges at this time because of credible evidence of reasonable self-defense. It is my duty to follow the law & evidence wherever it may lead.”

Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony was arrested for shooting San Francisco resident Chynna Brown who, according to activists, also goes by Banko Brown. The shooting occurred on the evening of April 27 after an alleged shoplifting attempt by Brown escalated, according to authorities.

On May 1, before Jenkins’s announcement, about 100 family members, friends, and activists held a vigil outside the Walgreens where the fatal incident happened.

“We have loved ones here that have been mourning the life of Banko Brown for the last four days,” said an attendee over a megaphone at the vigil.

A sidewalk memorial for Banko Brown on May 3, 2023, in front of the Walgreens where Brown was fatally shot. Jason Blair/The Epoch Times

The details of what happened leading up to Anthony discharging his gun at Brown have not been released by authorities so far.

Before the DA’s announcement, Anthony was originally scheduled to be arraigned on May 3.

The Epoch Times reached out to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for comment.