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Kin Cheung/PA
aquatic park

Young man shot dead while playing Pokemon Go at San Francisco tourist attraction

The 20-year-old and his friend had noticed someone watching them from the top of a hill.

A 20-YEAR-old man was shot to death while playing Pokemon Go at a tourist attraction along San Francisco’s waterfront.

Calvin Riley was shot Saturday night by an unknown assailant at Aquatic Park near Ghiradelli Square, the US Park Police said.

A family friend told KGO-TV Riley and a friend were playing the hit mobile game when he was shot.

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

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 smartphones.

Witnesses

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.

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

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 order to find and trap cartoon 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 in search of digital monsters.

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

Read: Clinton and Trump’s campaign teams have been using Pokémon Go to try to catch voters>

Read: Gardaí warn people not to play Pokémon Go while driving>

Author
Associated Foreign Press
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