Cash App founder Bob Lee’s last words were as he frantically shouted “help” as he bled to death after being stabbed on a San Francisco street.
Lee, 46, pleaded for help during a harrowing 911 call that was heard in the opening statements of the trial of his accused killer, technology consultant Nima Momeni, 40.
“Help, help, help, help, help,” Lee said to the dispatcher, who asked for his location.
Lee continued frantically, “Someone stabbed me. Please help me.
‘Please help me. I’m on the street. I have to go to the hospital.’
He is then heard groaning in pain as his voice grew weaker.
Lee, 46, pleaded for help during a 911 call heard in the opening statements of the trial of his accused killer
Prosecutors say Momeni planned the April 4, 2023, attack after a dispute over his younger sister Khazar, with whom Lee was friends. He is pictured in court last year
‘Help, help, help. Please, please,” he begged before sirens could be heard in the background and the 911 call ended, as reported by KRON4.
Tragically, Lee could not be saved and succumbed to his injuries shortly afterwards.
Prosecutors say Momeni planned the April 4, 2023 attack after a dispute over his younger sister, Khazar, with whom Lee was allegedly dating.
They say Momeni grabbed a knife from a unique set in his sister’s apartment, drove Lee to a secluded area, stabbed him three times and then fled.
“Stabbed through the heart and left to die,” said Omid Talai, assistant district attorney, “our victim was stabbed repeatedly, once in his chest, once in his hip and literally one that pierced his heart.”
Momeni, who was seen in orange prison clothing at previous court hearings, sat with his lawyers on Monday in a dark suit. His mother, who has been a steadfast presence at hearings, was in the courtroom.
Surveillance video of Lee’s last night shows him entering the swanky Millennium Tower downtown, where Momeni’s sister Khaza, pictured, lives with her husband, a prominent San Francisco plastic surgeon.
Lee was later seen on video desperately banging on the doors of an apartment complex as he searched for help
On the other side of the courtroom sat members of Lee’s family, including his ex-wife, father and brother. Lee’s brother put an arm around his father as the 911 call Lee made was replayed in court.
Momeni has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces 26 years to life in prison.
Lee’s death — after he left a deserted street in downtown San Francisco looking for help — stunned the tech community, and fellow executives and engineers wrote tributes to the charismatic entrepreneur’s generosity and genius.
Lawyer Saam Zangeneh told jurors that lawyers will prove Momeni Lee harbored no ill will.
He shows that wound patterns show Momeni was forced to defend himself after Lee pulled a knife from his pocket, was high on drugs and had only six hours of sleep during a four-day period during which he used cocaine and drank.
Lee was Chief Product Officer of cryptocurrency platform MobileCoin when he died. He was the father of two children.
Judge Alexandra Gordon told jurors that the highly anticipated trial that began Monday in San Francisco Superior Court is expected to last two months.
Momeni, who lives in nearby Emeryville, California, has been in custody since his arrest days after Lee died at a San Francisco hospital.