A City on Edge - What's the Public Response?
Will the Security Guard Eventually Be Prosecuted?
Does Calif. AG or the Fed's jump in and file charges?

San Francisco DA's Walgreens Decision NOT to Prosecute Making Headlines Globally

Demonstrators took to Market Street in San Francisco Monday evening demanding that Jenkins change her decision.

No Charges for the SF Walgreens Security Guard in Shooting of Alleged Shoplifter
SF DA Brooke Jenkins won't file charges in Banko Brown killing - Here's the whole story
Two weeks after San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins' city-rocking announcement that she would not pursue murder charges in a Walgreens security guard's killing of Banko Brown, Jenkins now says she won't bring any charges at all.

The San Francisco District Attorney's Office, which also published footage of the killing and police reports on Monday, said there was "insufficient evidence" to press criminal charges after an investigation determined "Anthony acted in lawful self-defense when he fired his weapon at Brown."

"Given the totality of the circumstances, including the threat that Anthony believed, and could reasonably believe, the evidence shows that Brown's shooting was not a criminal act because Anthony acted in lawful self-defense," the district attorney's office wrote in the report. "Thus, Anthony is not criminally liable for the death of Brown."

John Burris, the Oakland civil rights attorney representing Brown's family, told The Examiner that the "horrible, horrendous" video of Anthony shooting Brown had "no basis to use deadly force" in a shoplifting case, "particularly when it was the security guard who was the aggressor."

Security footage from inside the Walgreens that prosecutors published on Monday shows Brown attempting to leave the 825 Market St. store with a bag.

Anthony told investigators he saw Brown "take and conceal" items within his bag that day. The security company employing Brown, and that Walgreens contracted with, had recently directed guards to be "hands-on" in recovering stolen merchandise, according to prosecutors' report.

In the video, Anthony attempts to stop Brown from leaving the store when Brown bumps into him. The two shove each other, before Anthony swings his right arm at Brown multiple times. Brown stumbles over a display of products, with items from his bag strewn across the floor.

As Brown attempts to get up, Anthony wrestles him to the ground, places him in a chokehold as he stands and then wrestles him to the ground again.

Anthony told investigators that Brown repeatedly threatened to stab him as they "wrestled" and after saying he would let Brown go if the 24-year-old "calmed down," although he didn't see Brown carrying a knife. Police didn't find a knife in Brown's possession.

As Brown goes to gather his belongings, Anthony removes his gun from his holster. With Brown standing in the front walkway of the Walgreens, Anthony walks toward him. Anthony told investigators that he tried "to create distance" from Brown.

Brown then flares his shoulders forward, before Anthony shoots him. Anthony, according to prosecutors, said he felt Brown's spit hit his face after shooting Brown, and that he shot Brown "out of fear of Brown's intentions" after "Brown advanced towards him."

"I felt like I was in danger," Anthony told police. "I felt like I was going to be stabbed, and I didn't know what to expect after the hostility."

Aaron Peskin, the S.F. Board of Supervisor's president and a co-sponsor on last week's resolution, told Mission Local that he will introduce legislation calling upon the California Attorney General or the U.S. Department of Justice to review evidence in Brown's killing.

Supervisor Dean Preston, who said last week that he would draft legislation to limit security guards' use of guns, quickly rebuked Jenkins' decision not to pursue charges.

"I am horrified by this video which appears to show Banko Brown being executed for shoplifting," Preston said in a statement. "I do not understand how the District Attorney could have reviewed this video and concluded that the guard 'believed he was in mortal danger and acted in self defense.'"  sfexaminer.com


San Francisco District Attorney

Brown declination investigation - Reports

Declination of charges report into the death of Banko Brown on April 27, 2023

Redacted Suspect Interview Transcript with Homicide Investigators

Videos

Walgreens Surveillance Video (April 27, 2023)

Civilian Cell Phone Video Footage (April 27, 2023)

SFPD Body Worn Camera Footage (April 27, 2023)

Homicide Inspector Interview of Anthony (April 28, 2023)

These videos have been redacted for personal information and the suspect’s face has been blurred for privacy reasons. sfdistrictattorney.org

Global Headlines - Articles - Videos - Protesters
Just a sampling of the news

UK's The Guardian: Video shows Walgreens guard killing trans organizer Banko Brown as he left store

San Francisco district attorney says shooting was ‘reasonable’ and no charges will be filed, sparking outrage

The video, as well as the announcement by the San Francisco district attorney’s office it will not seek charges against the guard, is likely to reignite protests, which have popped up in San Francisco and spread through California since the killing, with activists demanding criminal prosecution and calling for increased investments in Black trans youth.

“It’s beyond comprehension why charges wouldn’t be filed,” said John Hamasaki, who ran for district attorney on a progressive platform last year and is a former member of the San Francisco police commission. theguardian.com

cbsnews.com: Release of evidence in Banko Brown case sparks protest in San Francisco; Others applaud DA's decision

abc7news.com: Banko Brown death: Community reacts to SF DA's decision not to file charges against Walgreens guard

sportskeeda.com: Who was Banko Brown? Case explained as Walgreens shooting video goes viral

Newsweek: Banko Brown Shooting Video Sparks Fury Over No Charges Filed Against Guard

NYPost: Shocking footage shows moment SF Walgreens security guard fatally shoots alleged shoplifter

Fox News: S.F. Supervisor Walton & Board President Peskin request state AG for independent review of prosecutor's decision

TheDailyBeast: Disturbing Footage Shows Alleged Shoplifter Was Retreating When Walgreens Guard Killed Him

ABC7NEWS: Watch the full interview between San Francisco homicide inspectors and the interview with Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony

Editor's Note: Are your stores secure? The Walgreens store has boarded up their windows.