Murdered tech mogul Bob Lee was killed in a mugging during a quick visit to San Francisco, friends say.
Bob Lee, 43, whose latest position was at cryptocurrency company MobileCoin, was found in the early hours of Tuesday in the exclusive residential area of Rincon Hill and was rushed to hospital but died of his injuries.
His dad has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his slain son who "worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known".
Lee had reportedly returned to San Francisco from Miami for a “quick visit” and stayed an extra day, friends have said.
Friend of Lee, former MMA fighter Jake Shields remembers him as a "loyal friend" and claimed that the tech entrepreneur was killed in a "random mugging and attack".
Police were called to 300 block of Main Street in San Francisco around 2.35am on Tuesday and found the dad-of-two suffering from stab wounds.
He had been a part of the Bay Area software development community for a long time and had recently moved to Miami.
Dad Rick Lee confirmed his son Bob had been killed in a post on Facebook.
He wrote: "Bob would give you the shirt off his back.
"He would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgement philosophy.
"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. "
The San Francisco Police Department said: “Officers arrived on scene and located a 43-year-old adult male victim suffering from apparent stab wounds. Officers rendered aid and summoned medics to the scene”.
It added: “The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts by first responders and medical personnel, the victim succumbed to his injuries."
His brother Tim Oliver Lee also paid tribute, saying: "I'm so saddened and disheartened to lose my brother. He really was the best of us. I was so fortunate to grow up with him, and I feel like I've lost part of myself.
"Thank you to everyone who has reached out and offered condolences."
No arrests have yet been made but investigations go on.
Mr Lee founded Cash App and went on to become chief technology officer at the payment company Block.
Other tributes included from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey who said: “It's real. Getting calls. Heartbreaking. Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App. STL guy.”
A friend who had reportedly planned to meet up with Mr Lee this coming weekend said that he was in San Francisco on business and had stayed on for an extra day when he was killed.
“I’m still in shock. No way he did anything to provoke this and I feel like he would just hand his money and watch to a mugger," they told The San Francisco Standard.
