'Extraordinarily callous': Landlord killed tenant so he could sell the property, then offered condolences to his family and asked son when he would be out, lawsuit says

A California landlord allegedly executed his tenant with a MAC-10 submachine gun truthful helium could merchantability his property, according to a lawsuit. The tenant's household says the landlord lit a occurrence connected apical of the victim's car and past ambushed him erstwhile helium came extracurricular to enactment it out.

The landlord, Philippe Chagniot, is accused of shooting Eric Bigone to decease successful May extracurricular the San Francisco location from which helium was trying to evict him. Chagniot has been charged with homicide with peculiar circumstances of lying successful wait, possession of a silencer, and possession of a high-capacity magazine.

A ailment filed by Bigone's lad says Chagniot tried to "Ellis Act" the 58-year-old, meaning helium wanted to evict him from the spot successful question and region it from the rental market. However, "they did not, successful fact, undertake steps to 'Ellis Act' the premises," according to the complaint.

"This was a fraudulent subterfuge calculated to induce Bigone to vacate the premises," the papers alleges. "[Chagniot] repeatedly told Bigone that they needed to merchantability their spot and that helium had to vacate."

Between January and May, Chagniot and his woman "repeatedly threatened" to person Bigone, who lived with his son, removed arsenic portion of a "campaign of harassment," the ailment says. The mates allegedly "became frustrated" that their attempts to origin Bigone to vacate the premises were not working.

"As a result, [Chagniot and his wife] conspired to execution Bigone truthful that they could merchantability the premises," the ailment charges. "On the greeting of May 17, 2026, [Chagniot and his wife] enactment their program to execution Bigone into action."

At astir 5 a.m., Chagniot allegedly "put connected acheronian covering and a mask" that covered his look and rode a bicycle to the premises equipped with a Military Armament Corporation Model 10 rifle, commonly known arsenic a "MAC-10." The limb was equipped with a silencer and a high-capacity magazine, according to the ailment and police.

"In an effort to further conceal himself, and by mode of readying and laying successful hold for Bigone, suspect Chagniot spray painted respective cameras successful the area," the ailment alleges. "Chagniot past lit a occurrence connected apical of Bigone's car, which was parked successful beforehand of the premises."

Chagniot allegedly "hid and waited for Bigone to exit the premises successful bid to ambush him," according to the complaint. When Bigone exited his location to enactment retired the fire, Chagniot allegedly changeable Bigone successful the backmost of the caput with the silenced MAC-10.

"Bigone past fell to the ground," the ailment says. "Chagniot stood implicit Bigone and changeable him again."

After allegedly murdering Bigone, the ailment says, Chagniot "casually rode disconnected connected his bicycle to his location successful the Marina District to conscionable with his wife." The mates reached retired to Bigone's lad aft the shooting to "offer condolences and find erstwhile helium would beryllium retired of the premises," according to the complaint.

"It's extraordinarily callous," lawyer Steve MacDonald, who is representing Bigone's son, told section ABC affiliate KGO. "It reminds maine of 'The Sopranos.' Show up astatine funerals and connection condolences. Very sordid."

Bigone's lad is seeking general, punitive and different damages from Chagniot and his wife. An lawyer representing the mates has not responded to requests for remark connected the case.

According to the San Francisco Sheriff's Office, Chagniot remains successful custody and has a proceeding acceptable for Aug. 24.