Prosecutors say Philippe Chagniot set a fire, waited nearby and shot Eric Bigone outside his home.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — A retired dentist and landlord pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and weapons charges in the fatal shooting of his tenant outside an Outer Sunset home on May 17.
Philippe Chagniot, 68, is accused of killing 58-year-old Eric Bigone after luring him outside with a fire, according to prosecutors and police. The case now moves forward in San Francisco Superior Court, where the special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait could bring life in prison without parole if Chagniot is convicted.
Police said officers were called at about 5:21 a.m. May 17 to the 2500 block of 46th Avenue, near Ulloa Street. They found Bigone suffering from gunshot wounds and tried to help him before paramedics arrived. Bigone was pronounced dead at the scene. San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said investigators later recovered surveillance video showing the suspect near the home before the shooting.
Prosecutors said Chagniot appeared in dark clothing, spray-painted nearby security cameras and set fire to a car outside Bigone’s residence. When Bigone came outside to deal with the fire, authorities said, Chagniot shot him from behind with an automatic firearm fitted with a silencer. “The suspect then stood over the victim and fired again before fleeing,” Lew said.
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged Chagniot with murder, assault with an automatic firearm, arson, possession of an automatic firearm, possession of a silencer and possession of a high-capacity magazine. Prosecutors also filed firearm allegations and the special-circumstance allegation of lying in wait. Authorities have not announced a motive. Police said Chagniot was arrested May 27 and that investigators served a search warrant after the arrest.
Defense attorney Michael Cardoza denied the allegations in court and said the case includes a large amount of discovery, including paperwork and videos. Cardoza asked for more time before the next hearing because of the seriousness of the charges. Chagniot remains in custody while the case proceeds.
Bigone was known in the Outer Sunset and had ties to local music and boxing events. His killing was one of the year’s homicide cases in the Sunset District, a largely residential part of western San Francisco near Ocean Beach. Police have said the investigation remains open.
The next court steps are expected to focus on evidence review and whether prosecutors can move the case toward trial. Chagniot has not been convicted of any charge in the case.
Author note: Last updated May 31, 2026.