The trial of a San Francisco police officer charged with involuntary manslaughter for shooting dead a man on the victim’s doorstep, which eventually led to his death several years later, continues in September when prosecutors are expected to find evidence in the victim’s home case will be presented.
The case of officer Kenneth Cha, whose preliminary hearing will be held on September 6, is the latest of three such counts of force charged by former prosecutor Chesa Boudin. The other two cases were dismissed.
The case revolves around Cha’s shooting death of Sean Moore in the Ocean View neighborhood in 2017. Moore was shot and killed on his doorstep by Cha but did not die until three years later from injuries sustained in the shooting.
The incident marked the first time in San Francisco that a police shooting was captured with a body-worn camera. Later that same year, Cha shot and killed a man armed with a knife at a Subway restaurant on Market Street.
“I hope the prosecutor sets a date for the preliminary investigation,” said Rebeca Young, who is representing the victim’s family.
Moore’s brother expressed relief that the long-delayed case is finally moving forward.
“This case has been going on for so long; It kind of took a toll on my mom,” said Ken Blackmon.
Sean Moore can be seen on the steps of his home in a still bodycam captured by the San Francisco Police Department before he was shot by Kenneth Cha. | Courtesy of SFPD
Moore, who suffered from mental health issues that may have played a role in his interaction with Cha, died in 2020 while serving time in San Quentin State Prison for an unrelated incident. Cha was charged with involuntary manslaughter by then-district attorney Boudin in 2021.
In July 2022, the case was taken over by a new assistant district attorney after Jenkins was appointed prosecutor following Boudin’s recall. Several delays in the case followed.
