Two people found guilty over killing photographer Edward French in Twin Peaks

A jury has found two individuals guilty of the murder of photographer Edward French, who was killed during a camera robbery at Twin Peaks in 2017. Fantasy Decuir and Lamonte Nims were convicted of first-degree murder on Thursday following a four-day deliberation.

The shooting and robbery occurred on July 16, 2017, as French was photographing the under-construction Salesforce Tower. The 71-year-old photographer was attacked and shot, and his camera was stolen. A passer-by reportedly gave him CPR and he was quickly transported to hospital, but he sadly succumbed to his injuries.

According to prosecutors, Decuir and Nims approached French and demanded his camera at gunpoint. When French resisted, Decuir shot him in the chest. Mims then kicked French while he lay on the ground before the pair fled the scene.

Authorities later recovered the stolen camera, and Decuir and Nims were eventually identified and arrested. What’s more, they robbed two tourists at gunpoint not even two weeks later, stealing their camera and credit cards. This is how they were ultimately identified and arrested for the killing of Edward French.

In June 2023, a trial against Decuir and Nims ended in a hung jury. However, the trial continued later, and the suspects have now been found guilty.

The victim was ripped from the lives of his friends and family by this callous killing over a camera,” said San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Aaron Laycook.”We are profoundly grateful for the jury’s thoughtful and deliberate consideration of the evidence in this case, and we hope their verdict brings some sense of justice and closure to the loved ones of the victim.

Decuir and Mims are both in custody and are scheduled to be sentenced on December 6.

[via PetaPixel]

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