An American student was shot dead while playing Pokémon GO.

(Baonghean.vn) - A student named Calvin Riley, 20 years old, was shot dead while playing Pokémon GO at the Aquarium Park near Ghiradelli Square.

A group of young people gathered to play Pokémon GO. Photo: AP.

The shooter has not yet been arrested. US police said they are investigating the cause of the shooting.

John Kirby, a family friend, told KGO-TV that Riley and his friend were playing Pokémon GO when a man came up and shot them from behind and then ran away.

"As far as we know, Riley had no conflict with anyone. It's hard to explain what happened, just a shot from behind and then running away for nothing," Mr. Kirby said.

Mr. Kirby added that Riley and his friend noticed someone watching them, but because it was dark and they were also focused on their phones playing Pokémon GO, they did not detect the culprit.

Sergeant Robert Jansing said the gunman did not take any of Riley's belongings after the shooting.

Currently, the game Pokémon GO is becoming the center of attention of the world this summer when millions of people downloaded it in just a short time.

However, the game's popularity has created unintended consequences. Many people have complained about Pokémon GO players trespassing on private homes. Many players have even been injured or robbed while searching for Pokémon.

Lawmakers have issued warnings about the potential dangers of Pokémon GO when players become too engrossed and lose sight of their surroundings.

Thanh Hien

(According to Independent)