SAN FRANCISCO—Detectives with the San Francisco Police Department Homicide Department arrested a suspect involved in a shooting at a Walgreens on Thursday, April 27. The suspect – identified as 33-year-old Michael Earl-Wayne Anthony – shot a transgender victim and has been charged with homicide.
At approximately 6:33 p.m., SFPD officers from Tenderloin Station responded to a report of a shooting at 825 Market Street near Fourth Street, the SFPD reported. Officers arrived on scene and located a victim – identified as 24-year-old Chynna Brown, who preferred the name Banko Paso – suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers rendered aid and summoned medics to the scene. Paso was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and was later pronounced dead.
SFPD Homicide Detail took over the investigation and discovered that Paso was possibly shoplifting at the Walgreens at the time of the incident. Anthony, an on-duty private security guard, reportedly brandished a gun and shot Paso in response.
“When they watched the video, there was absolutely no reason for him to do what he did,” the victim’s mother, Kevinisha Henderson told KRON 4. “I don’t understand why a Walgreens security guard would have a gun.”
According to Henderson, Paso identified as a trans man and wonders if his race, gender or gender identity had anything to do with how the incident transpired.
“For a while, he struggled with his identity,” Henderson said. “Lately, he had been experiencing some fear.”
Anthony was booked into San Francisco County Jail on the charge of homicide. His arraignment is set for Monday, May 1.
This remains an active investigation and SFPD is asking anyone with information about this shooting to call the SFPD 24-hour Tip Line at (415) 575-4444.
