'Pokemon Go' player shot to death at San Francisco park | Inquirer Technology

‘Pokemon Go’ player shot to death at San Francisco park

/ 12:03 AM August 09, 2016

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 12, 2016, file photo, Pinsir, a Pokemon, is found by a group of Pokemon Go players at Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The "Pokemon Go" craze has sent legions of players hiking around cities and battling with "pocket monsters" on their smartphones. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File

SAN FRANCISCO — A 20-year-old man was shot to death while playing “Pokemon Go” at a tourist attraction along San Francisco’s waterfront, authorities and a family friend said.

An unknown assailant shot Calvin Riley on Saturday night at Aquatic Park near Ghiradelli Square, the U.S. Park Police said Sunday. A family friend called it a random attack.

Article continues after this advertisement

Riley was playing the hit mobile game with a friend when someone shot him from behind and took off, John Kirby told KGO-TV.

FEATURED STORIES

“From what we know, there was no confrontation,” Kirby said. “There was nothing said back and forth. It was just senseless, just came up and shot in the back and ran away for nothing.”

Kirby said Riley and his friend had noticed someone watching them from the top of a hill that overlooks the park, but it was dark and they were mostly looking at their cellphones.

Article continues after this advertisement

National Park Service spokesman Lynn Cullivan said investigators believe there are witnesses to the attack because it happened in the bustling Fisherman’s Wharf area. They are seeking tips.

Article continues after this advertisement

Sgt. Robert Jansing, a detective with the U.S. Park Police, said the gunman did not take any of Riley’s belongings or try to rob him.

Article continues after this advertisement

Riley graduated from high school in San Mateo and pitched for the baseball team at San Joaquin Delta College.

“It’s a huge loss to everyone,” the school’s head coach, Reed Peters, told KGO-TV. “He was a great kid, a great competitor.”

Article continues after this advertisement

It’s unclear whether the attack had anything to do with “Pokemon Go,” which has become a national sensation this summer as legions of fans visit real-world landmarks in a hunt for digital creatures.

But the game’s popularity has created unintended consequences in everyday life.

Property owners complain of players trespassing or damaging their grounds, and scores of players have been injured or robbed as they stare at their phones and try to track cartoon monsters.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

Law enforcement officials have warned about the game’s possible dangers, saying players can become engrossed in it and tune out their surroundings.

TOPICS: Mobile Apps, News, Pokemon Go, technology
TAGS: Mobile Apps, News, Pokemon Go, technology

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.