Bob Lee, who founded Cash App, was stabbed and killed in San Francisco.

Founder of Cash App Bob Lee was stabbed to death in San Francisco.

Credit: ABC News

According to his family and the police, Bob Lee, a technology professional who established the mobile payment business Cash App and formerly worked at Square, passed away on Tuesday after being stabbed close to downtown San Francisco.

Around 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday, according to San Francisco police, officers responded to a report of a stabbing. The police discovered Robert Lee, 43, who appeared to have been stabbed. Police added that he passed away from his wounds after being transferred to a hospital.

On Wednesday night, Police Chief Bill Scott stated an ongoing investigation which he referred to as a terrible crime, stating that it is still in its preliminary stages. The police department's homicide detail is currently investigating the incident.

The victim, Bob Lee, was formerly the Chief Technology Officer of Square (now Block), a financial technology start-up co-founded by Jack Dorsey. He was most recently employed as the Chief Product Officer of MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency company.

After his time at Square, Bob Lee went on to create Cash App, a service that facilitates money transfers. In a Facebook post, Bob Lee's father, Richard Lee, expressed his grief over his son's passing, describing him as the hardest-working and most intelligent person he had ever known. Richard Lee also thanked those who had reached out to offer support.

According to Richard Lee's post, he and his son had been living in Miami since October, having relocated from California. The two had grown particularly close after Bob Lee's mother passed away in 2019. It is not yet clear why Bob Lee was back in the Bay Area at the time of his death. Tim Oliver Lee, Bob Lee's brother, also took to Facebook to express his sorrow, saying that he felt as though he had lost a part of himself and that his brother had truly been the best of them.

Joshua Goldbard, the founder and CEO of MobileCoin, stated on Wednesday announcing the passing of Bob Lee. Although he did not specify the cause of death, Goldbard praised Lee's business acumen and described him as remarkable.

According to Goldbard, Lee was a visionary with a brilliant and kaleidoscopic mind, and the two of them had a close relationship akin to that of brothers. Goldbard stated that Lee was a force of nature, perfectly suited for the changing world and that he had a unique talent for turning even the wildest of dreams into reality.

The World Health Organization said in a statement that "Bob constructed a substantial chunk of the server for the WHO Covid-19 App," confirming to NBC News on Wednesday that Lee contributed his "help and knowledge" during the outbreak.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Lee also invested in other Internet companies, including the social audio app Clubhouse and Elon Musk's SpaceX business. He had "crazy bob" as his Twitter and LinkedIn usernames.

Police Chief Bill Scott expressed his condolences and condemned the violent crime that led to Bob Lee's death, emphasizing that there is no place for such acts of violence in the city. He assured the public that the investigators are working hard to make an arrest and bring justice to the victim and his loved ones, as they do in every homicide case.

The incident may lead to increased scrutiny of public safety concerns in San Francisco, where residents and business owners have become increasingly worried about violent crimes and thefts. The city's mayor, London Breed, has pledged to take action to address these issues. According to data collected by the police department, there have been 12 homicides in San Francisco since the beginning of the year, compared to 10 during the same period last year.

Bob Lee's family, friends, and colleagues paid tribute to him, recalling him as a remarkable and special person. His former wife Krista Lee described him as an incredible and beautiful human being who was everyone's best friend. Bob Lee had two children, Damien and Scout, who remembered him as a down-to-earth person who always listened.

The former MMA fighter Jake Shields remembered Lee as a loyal friend, and Elon Musk expressed his condolences on Twitter. Jack Dorsey, the former CEO of Twitter, acknowledged Lee's contributions to Square and Cash App and called his death heartbreaking. Joshua Bloch, a friend who worked with Lee at Google, remembered him as a magnetic person who lived life to the fullest and could seemingly do anything he wanted. Bloch described Lee as a remarkable individual, and he would say the same things even if Lee were still alive.