San Francisco police arrested a 68-year-old man in the fatal Outer Sunset shooting of Eric Bigone this month.
Peter Thoshinsky/San Francisco Police Department
A San Francisco man was charged with murder and arson in connection with the fatal shooting of Eric Bigone this month outside a home in the Outer Sunset, authorities said Thursday.
San Francisco police identified the suspect as Philippe Chagniot, 68, and said investigators arrested him Wednesday without incident. He was booked into San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of murder.
The arrest comes 10 days after officers responded to the 2500 block of 46th Avenue, near Ulloa Street, after a report of a shooting. Officers found Bigone suffering from gunshot wounds and tried to aid him before paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
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The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office released more details about the morning of Bigone’s death Thursday. At approximately 5:09 a.m. on May 17, Chagniot was captured on surveillance cameras spray-painting other cameras in the area to block their lenses, prosecutors said.
Chagniot then allegedly set a fire atop a car near Bigone’s home and hid nearby until Bigone emerged with a shovel to remove the burning materials, according to the district attorney’s office.
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“While the victim dealt with the fire, Mr. Chagniot allegedly approached the victim from behind with a silenced and fully automatic MAC-10 firearm and shot the victim in the back,” the district attorney’s office said. “Once the victim fell to the ground, Mr. Chagniot allegedly stood over him and fired again, killing him.”
Surveillance cameras allegedly captured Chagniot “casually biking away,” prosecutors said.
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Police said homicide investigators identified Chagniot as the suspect during the investigation and developed probable cause to arrest him. After the arrest, investigators served a search warrant at Chagniot’s residence and seized evidence connected to the case.
Chagniot was additionally charged with use of assault with an automatic firearm, possession of a high-capacity magazine and possession of a silencer, as well as the special circumstance of lying in wait.
Authorities did not reveal a possible motive or describe any relationship between Chagniot and Bigone.
The San Francisco Standard, citing sources and property records, reported that Chagniot was Bigone’s landlord and that the home where Bigone lived was owned by a member of Chagniot’s family. The Chronicle could not immediately verify those details.
Bigone, 58, was a longtime Outer Sunset resident remembered by friends for his ties to local music, boxing and the neighborhood around Ocean Beach. Friends previously described him as someone who had lived through a troubled earlier chapter but had settled into a quieter life after prison.
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Court records show Bigone was convicted in Lake County of killing another motorist while driving drunk. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. A 2009 federal ruling said the case involved a 2004 head-on crash on Highway 29.
The killing was the second reported homicide in the Sunset District this year.
In March, 22-year-old Samantha Emge was fatally shot at a home on 22nd Avenue. Prosecutors later charged Nation Wood, 25, with involuntary manslaughter in that case.
Police said the investigation into Bigone’s killing remains open. Anyone with information may call SFPD at 415-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411, beginning the message with “SFPD.” Tipsters may remain anonymous.
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