YouTube software engineer, 32, is facing attempted murder charges for his ‘drug-fueled July Fourth rampage’ that left eight injured after he ‘dropped LSD, stole a truck and rammed it into pedestrians, and stabbed his friend with a pencil’
- Betai Koffi, 32, is facing attempted murder, assault and carjacking charges
- The YouTube software engineer was on vacation for July 4th when he took LSD
- His friends said Koffi consumed four doses of LSD within the span of six hours
- He then allegedly went on a rampage that saw him stab one friend with a pencil
- Cops said he ran down a street and stabbed security guard with landscape light
- Koffi then allegedly stole the guard’s truck and struck two women and two men
- Both women were significantly injured but are expected to survive, police said
- The guard was taken to a hospital and he is also expected to survive his injuries
- Authorities caught up to Koffi who drove at them, prompting an officer to shoot
- Koffi was struck three times and taken to a hospital and placed under arrest
A YouTube software engineer is facing attempted murder charges after he allegedly consumed LSD on the Fourth of July and went on a drug-induced rampage that injured eight people in California.
Betai Koffi, 32, was with five of his friends who had rented a Bodega Bay home for the holiday weekend when Sonoma County Sheriff’s Detectives received a 911 call around 8pm on Thursday.
Authorities said in a statement that Koffi consumed two doses of LSD or acid, which is a known dangerous hallucinogenic drug around 12pm.
By 3pm he had become ‘delusional’ and his friends tried to keep him calm.
Between 4pm and 5pm, Koffi allegedly consumed two more doses of LSD and a few hours later he tried to leave the home in the 600 block of Swan Drive shortly before 8pm.
YouTube software engineer, Betai Koffi (pictured), 32, is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly consuming LSD on July 4th and went on a rampage that injured 8 people in California
Authorities said in a statement that Koffi consumed four doses of LSD or acid, which is a known dangerous hallucinogenic drug before going on the rampage. Koffi is from San Francisco and according to his LinkedIn page, he works for YouTube (file image)
While attempting to leave, Koffi ‘punched a woman in the chest and side, then stabbed a man with a pencil, and choked another man, and punched another man in the face’ police said in the statement.
He was able to get into his rental car and proceeded to leave the home, ramming into another car that was parked behind him.
‘Koffi put the car in drive and drove towards one of the men, who was able to get out of the way, then drove the car into the garage of the home, lodging it into the home,’ authorities said.
Koffi, of San Francisco, reportedly exited the vehicle and ran down the street until he was confronted by a security guard.
According to police, while the guard was speaking with Koffi, he picked up a landscape light and allegedly stabbed the guard in the chest.
Koffi allegedly stole the guard’s truck and drove straight towards a man and woman who were walking in the area.
He ‘violently hit the woman with the truck causing significant injuries’, police said, adding that the man was not seriously injured.
Koffi then drove toward another couple and hit a second woman, allegedly causing significant injuries to her as well.
Following the rampage, Koffi (pictured) was charged with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and carjacking
Officers caught up to Koffi on Pelican Loop Road when a deputy stopped in the street.
‘Koffi turned the truck and accelerated towards the two patrol cars and drove straight towards the officers,’ police said in the statement.
The deputy then fired several rounds at Koffi who continued to drive forward, colliding into another officer’s car.
Police said the deputy fired more rounds that struck Koffi.
He was hit at least three times through the windshield police said.
Koffi was then flown to a nearby hospital where he is currently in critical condition.
Both women who were allegedly hit by the truck he was driving were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries. They are expected to survive.
The security guard was also transported to a hospital. He is also expected to survive.
Koffi was placed under arrest at the hospital.
He has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one charge of carjacking for the incidents leading up to the officer involved shooting.
Bail has not been set.
According to Koffi’s LinkedIn page, he has been working for YouTube since November 2018.
He received both his master’s and bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.