San Francisco Police arrested 68-year-old Philippe Chagniot on Wednesday, charging him with the murder of his 58-year-old tenant, Eric Bigone, who was shot and killed early May 17 as he left for work. Chagniot’s family owns the 46th Avenue home where Bigone li
On the morning Eric Bigone was killed, the hours were supposed to be ordinary. Around 5:30 a.m. on May 17, the 58-year-old Outer Sunset resident was shot as he was leaving for work.
By Wednesday, San Francisco Police arrested the man they say was responsible.
Philippe Chagniot, 68, was taken into custody and transported to San Francisco jail, where he was booked for murder, the San Francisco Police Department said.
Bigone was a tenant at the home where Chagniot’s family owns the property on 46th Avenue. Public records show Bigone had lived there since 2023.
Friends of Bigone described a relationship that was already strained. Bigone had talked to people close to him about disputes with his landlord. One friend, who asked not to be identified by name, said Chagniot allegedly “wanted to sell the house but didn’t want to pay for Eric to relocate.”
In the days since the killing, investigators have pointed to details captured before the shooting. On the morning of the attack. the suspect was seen in security footage arriving at Bigone’s apartment on a bicycle. his face covered by a mask and carrying a long gun. Images from a police bulletin board show what was described as his appearance at the scene.
Chagniot is a dentist who ran a practice near Stonestown, but his license expired in 2024. He lives in a home in Ingleside that his family also owns.
Bigone’s life before the shooting was complicated. but those who knew him described a man who worked hard to keep moving forward. Friends said he had a troubled past and served years in prison after killing someone in 2004 in a drunk driving accident. After his release, friends said Bigone lived quietly, working as a laborer for the SFPUC.
“He was a stand-up guy, but he took his sobriety seriously and was a positive influence on those around him, especially the youthful offenders,” said Gerald Cypert, who met Bigone at Solano State Prison around 2016.
Even with that history, Bigone was remembered by friends as “a good man” and “a solid friend.” He loved boxing, and for the past five years helped the nearby United Irish Cultural Center set up its amateur boxing ring.
After his death, a GoFundMe set up for his son and grandchildren has raised some $6,600.
“He was such a giving person,” Bigone’s mother said at a recent memorial. “He was full of love, grace, generosity, and fun.”
Bigone’s funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on June 10 at Saint Anne of the Sunset at 850 Judah St.
San Francisco Outer Sunset Philippe Chagniot Eric Bigone SFPD murder charge tenant landlord bicycle security footage Ingleside Stonestown dentist
So they just arrested the landlord and thats it? Crazy.
Wait the dentist’s license expired in 2024 and now he’s doing murder stuff?? SF is wild. I don’t even get how someone can be a landlord and then go full villain.
Bicycle + mask + long gun… that’s like a movie. But also it says he “wanted to sell the house” and “didn’t want to pay to relocate” which sounds like normal landlord BS to me, not murder though? Idk maybe it was about money for the move or something.
This is why you can’t trust landlords, they all want to “sell” and then act innocent. Also the victim had prison for drunk driving?? so people will say he deserved it (not saying that), but it just makes everything messy. The GoFundMe being only 6,600 though… seems low for San Francisco. Sad either way.