A former California dentist has been charged with murder after allegedly setting fire to his tenant's car and then fatally shooting him in an ambush. Philippe Chagniot, 68, was arrested on Wednesday and transported to the San Francisco County jail, according to local police.
The incident occurred in the Outer Sunset neighbourhood in the early hours of May 17. The victim, identified by several news outlets as 58-year-old Eric Bigone, was shot execution-style, officials said. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office announced the charges on Thursday.
Prosecutors allege that Chagniot disguised himself in a mask and dark clothing, rode a bicycle to Bigone's home at around 5 a.m., and spray-painted surveillance cameras before setting a fire on top of a car. When Bigone came out with a shovel to remove the burning materials, Chagniot, hiding nearby, shot him with a silenced, fully automatic gun. After Bigone fell, Chagniot allegedly stood over him and shot again, then biked away.
Chagniot faces charges including murder, arson, and possession of an automatic firearm. His dental license, issued in 1985, expired in 2024. Neighbours expressed shock, with one describing him as a 'great man' and former dentist. Bigone, a recovered alcoholic, taught youth boxing and coached in Alcoholics Anonymous, working for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and singing in a band.
