Who was Bob Lee and what happened to him? Details explored ahead of Dateline on NBC 

Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, was fatally stabbed in April 2023. His death shocked the tech world, with many assuming it was a random attack. However, investigations revealed a different story. The person responsible for his murder was not a stranger but another tech executive, Nima Momeni. The case took many twists and turns, revealing details of the events leading up to that tragic night.

NBC's Dateline is set to air an episode covering this case, bringing more attention to what really happened. Here's everything you need to know.

Bob Lee was a well-known name in the tech industry. He helped create Cash App, a popular money transfer service. Before that, he worked as the chief technology officer at Square (now Block), a company co-founded by Twitter's former CEO, Jack Dorsey. At the time of his death, Lee was working as the Chief Product Officer at MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency company.

He was a respected entrepreneur and had made significant contributions to the fintech industry.

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How did Bob Lee die?

On April 4, 2023, Bob Lee was found bleeding on a street in San Francisco. Surveillance footage showed him trying to walk for help after being stabbed multiple times. He even tried to flag down a passing car, but it didn’t stop. By the time police arrived, he was unconscious.

Earlier that evening, Lee was at a hotel in San Francisco with a friend. Court documents revealed that he had a conversation with Nima Momeni, a tech consultant. Momeni questioned Lee about his sister, asking if she had been taking drugs or engaging in inappropriate behavior. Lee assured him that nothing bad had happened.

Later that night, Lee and Momeni were seen together near Momeni’s sister’s apartment. They got into Momeni’s white BMW and drove to a quiet area in downtown San Francisco.

Surveillance footage captured the two men standing on a sidewalk for a few minutes. Suddenly, Momeni pulled out a kitchen knife and stabbed Lee three times, including twice in the chest. One of the stab wounds punctured Lee’s heart.

After the attack, Momeni tossed the knife, got into his car, and drove away.

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The investigation and arrest

After a nine-day search, police arrested Nima Momeni on April 13, 2023. The district attorney’s office charged him with murder. Court documents stated that the attack was planned and intentional since Momeni used a knife from a kitchen rather than a pocketknife.

On the night of the murder, Momeni’s sister sent a text to Bob Lee. She wrote:

"Just wanted to make sure you’re doing okay. I know Nima came down really hard on you."

This message suggested that Momeni had been aggressive toward Lee before the attack.

Momeni’s trial lasted two months. In December 2023, the jury found him guilty of second-degree murder. Since there was no clear evidence that he planned to kill Lee, he was not convicted of first-degree murder.

If convicted of second-degree murder, Momeni could face 26 years to life in prison.

Bob Lee’s death shocked the tech world. Many influential figures, including Elon Musk, initially blamed San Francisco’s crime and homelessness problem. However, once it was revealed that Momeni was a fellow tech entrepreneur, these assumptions were proven wrong.

Lee’s death also raised concerns about personal safety, even among the wealthy and successful.

NBC’s Dateline is set to air an episode covering Bob Lee’s murder. The show may include:

• New video footage from the night of the attack
• Interviews with people close to Lee and Momeni
• Details about their relationship and the events leading up to the murder

This episode is expected to give viewers a deeper look into the tragic story that shook Silicon Valley.

Bob Lee was a brilliant tech innovator whose life was cut short in a shocking act of violence. While his murder initially seemed like a random street crime, it turned out to be a personal conflict that ended in tragedy.

As Dateline revisits the case, more details may come to light, offering new insights into the moments before Lee's untimely death.

Stay tuned with Soap Central for more updates!