A San Francisco landlord has been charged with murdering his tenant in May to facilitate the sale of the property, according to a lawsuit filed by the victim's family.
Philippe Chagniot allegedly shot Eric Bigone, 58, in the head with a silenced MAC-10 submachine gun outside the San Francisco home on May 17, 2026. The complaint states that Chagniot lit a fire on Bigone's car to lure him outside before ambushing him and shooting him again after he fell.
The lawsuit alleges that Chagniot and his wife had harassed Bigone for months in an unsuccessful bid to evict him under the Ellis Act. It claims they conspired to murder him after their efforts failed, with Chagniot allegedly disguising himself, spraying security cameras, and fleeing on a bicycle after the shooting.
Chagniot has been charged with homicide with special circumstances of lying in wait, as well as possession of a silencer and a high-capacity magazine. He remains in custody with a hearing scheduled for August 24. Bigone's son is seeking damages from Chagniot and his wife.