Nephew Mourns Ex-SFPD Deputy Chief, Daughter Killed in Murder-Suicide
Brendan Mannix remembers his aunt Ann as a trailblazer and his cousin Katie as a loving aspiring nurse.
The nephew of a former San Francisco deputy police chief is mourning the loss of his aunt and her daughter, who were killed in a murder-suicide incident. Ann Mannix, 65, a retired Deputy Chief of Police, and her 24-year-old daughter, Katie Mannix, were fatally shot by Kevin Mannix, 68, a retired police sergeant and Ann's husband, before he took his own life. The three were found deceased at a home in Marin County, across the bay from San Francisco.
Brendan Mannix described his aunt Ann as a pioneering figure in the San Francisco Police Department, instrumental in advancing opportunities for women within the force. He remembered Katie as an aspiring nurse, known for her supportive messages and deep affection for loved ones. "My beloved aunt, retired Deputy Chief Ann Mannix, and my dear cousin, Katie Mannix, lost their lives in a senseless act of violence. We’re heartbroken, lost for words and forever changed," Brendan Mannix wrote on Facebook.
Katie Mannix was nearing the completion of her goal to become a nurse, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Lauren. Brendan Mannix shared that Katie often reached out to family members with messages of love and encouragement, noting her kind heart and ability to make people feel special.
Ann Mannix had a distinguished career with the SFPD, rising to Deputy Chief of the Field Operations Bureau in 2018 and then leading the Special Operations Bureau in 2019. She also made history as the first woman to join and lead the department's SWAT team. Her husband, Kevin Mannix, retired from the SFPD in June 2018 after 27 years of service.
A close family friend and Ann Mannix's best friend of 60 years expressed deep sadness over the deaths, stating that Ann did not deserve such a fate. Another family member indicated that Ann and Kevin Mannix's relationship was strained, though they did not anticipate such a tragic outcome. Kevin Mannix's farewell letter upon his retirement from the SFPD mentioned cherishing friendships built during his career and looking forward to spending more time with loved ones.
The San Francisco Police Department confirmed the deaths, with Chief Derrick Lew sending a department-wide message expressing profound sadness and offering support services to officers. The Police Officer’s Association issued a statement highlighting Ann Mannix's trailblazing career and the shock and grief felt by the entire SFPD family over the horrific loss of the Mannix family members.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also conveyed his deep sorrow, acknowledging Deputy Chief Mannix's decades of service and her significant impact as a pioneer in the police department.