A security guard who fatally shot a suspected shoplifter at a Walgreens store in downtown San Francisco in April will not face criminal charges, according to the district attorney’s office.
Michael Anthony shot and killed Banko Brown on April 27, claiming that Brown had repeatedly threatened to stab him before the shooting
Although police did not find a knife in Brown’s possession, prosecutors determined that Anthony’s fear was reasonable. The district attorney’s office said in a report that Anthony acted in lawful self-defense and was not criminally liable for Brown’s death.
The shooting and lack of charges have sparked protests in San Francisco and raised broader debates over crime, poverty, homelessness, and criminal justice in the city. San Francisco has seen a marked exodus of middle-class residents since the Covid-19 pandemic, and a series of brazen property crimes and rampant public drug use has created a sense of disorder.
As part of the backlash, progressive prosecutor Chesa Boudin was recalled by a 55% vote last year
Brooke Jenkins was appointed to replace him and pledged to “restore accountability and consequences to our criminal justice system,” saying this was a moment to “take back our streets.” Brown was a transgender man, and the guard used incorrect pronouns when describing his mental state at the moment Brown moved toward him.
John Burris, an attorney representing Brown’s family, said he would file a lawsuit in the case soon, as he believed the shooting was unjustified. Walgreens issued a statement offering condolences to Brown’s family and stating that violence of any kind would not be tolerated in its stores. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has asked the state attorney general and the US Department of Justice to review the case.