Outer Sunset Rental Returns to Market After Alleged Landlord Ambush Killing

Less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean, a three-bedroom home at 2518 46th Ave. in San Francisco's desirable Outer Sunset neighborhood is back on the rental market — but the listing carries a disturbing backstory.

The house offers hardwood floors, a two-car garage and is within walking distance of Ocean Beach. Prosecutors say the property's landlord, 68-year-old retired dentist Philippe Chagniot, allegedly fatally shot tenant Eric Bigone outside the residence on May 17, 2026. Chagniot has been charged in connection with the case, and the matter has drawn intense local scrutiny.

Allegations and Charges

According to the San Francisco District Attorney's Office and police reports, surveillance footage shows a masked person — identified by prosecutors as Chagniot — approaching the home on a bicycle at about 5:10 a.m. Investigators say the footage then shows him spray-painting nearby cameras and setting fire to Bigone's parked car.

Prosecutors allege that as Bigone ran outside with a shovel to try to extinguish the blaze, the accused approached with a "silenced and fully automatic Mac-10 firearm," shot Bigone in the back and then again after he fell. Video reportedly shows the suspect calmly bicycling away after the shooting. Authorities say FLOCK public-safety cameras were later used to track the suspect's movements back to his residence.

Philippe Chagniot was arrested and charged in late May. The San Francisco District Attorney's Office filed charges that include murder with a firearm enhancement and a special-circumstances enhancement for lying in wait, along with additional arson- and firearms-related counts. Court records show Chagniot pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on May 29.

Civil Case And Property Status

In June, Dino Bigone, Eric Bigone's son, filed a wrongful-death lawsuit naming Philippe and Barbara Chagniot and the Chagniot 2007 Family Trust, which records show owns the property. The civil complaint alleges the two men had a rental dispute: Bigone reportedly paid $3,200 a month in cash, and the suit claims the landlord insisted on cash payments to avoid reporting income for tax purposes.

The complaint says the arrangement held until January 2026, when Chagniot sought to sell the house and allegedly began refusing rent and threatening eviction. Between January and May, prosecutors say Chagniot repeatedly threatened to use the Ellis Act to remove Bigone, though the suit contends no Ellis Act proceedings were initiated. A judge has since barred the Chagniots and the trustee from selling the property while the civil case proceeds.

Rental Listing

With a sale blocked by the wrongful-death lawsuit, the Outer Sunset home began appearing on rental websites in late August. Records on Homes.com show the property was listed on Aug. 22 for $8,000 per month; within days the asking rent was reduced to $6,500 and later adjusted to $6,300, where it has remained on rental sites.

What Comes Next

Local prosecutors continue to pursue the criminal case, and the civil wrongful-death litigation remains active as the parties dispute ownership and the future of the home. Chagniot has pleaded not guilty; his case will proceed through the courts.

Note: The allegations described here are from charging documents and court filings. The defendant has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.