Bob Lee, Cash App founder, dead after apparent stabbing attack in San Francisco

Bob Lee, the former chief technology officer of Square who played a significant role in the launch of Cash App, has died at the age of 43 following an apparent stabbing attack in San Francisco. Lee’s death has been confirmed by Startup MobileCoin, where he was the chief product officer. Lee had only recently switched to cryptography and digital payments and initially worked for MobileCoin in 2021. In a statement, the CEO of MobileCoin, Josh Goldbard, called Lee a “dynamo” and one who was “made for the world that is being born right now.”

Lee was a highly respected member of the tech industry, and tributes have poured in following his death. The CEO of Square, Jack Dorsey, called it “heartbreaking.” Lee was a knowledgeable and highly talented software architect who led the team that brought Android to the world. Before his time at Square, he served at Google. It is still unclear what led to the stabbing, and police have released little information except to confirm they found a 43-year-old man with stab wounds in San Francisco’s Rincon area.

Lee’s death has come amid an increase in San Francisco crime, up around 20% from this time last year. San Francisco police data indicates that the city faced 12 homicides this year alone, with 56 in 2021. These figures have prompted widespread concern, with San Francisco Mayor London Breed terming Lee’s death “a horrible tragedy.” Tech entrepreneur Ryan Gilbert of Launchpad Capital described Lee as “one of a kind,” adding that “may his memory be a blessing.”

Elon Musk, currently the owner of Twitter, responded to the news with a tweet. “Violent crime in SF is horrific, and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately,” he said. Musk tagged San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins in his post. Lee’s father, Rick Lee, wrote on Facebook that his son was his “best friend” and called him a person who would “give the shirt off his back.” He added his son would “never look down on anyone” and adhered to a “strict no-judgment philosophy.”



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