The Murder of George Moscone

George Moscone was set to announce Dan White's replacement to the Board of Supervisors on Monday, November 27, 1978. He had ultimately decided to choose a more liberal candidate, federal housing official Don Horanzy. In his home, Dan White showered, shaved and put on his best suit. He also picked up his .38 caliber Smith & Wesson Model 36 Chief's Special revolver, loaded with hollow-point bullets. He put 10 extra hollow-point shells in his pocket and asked a friend to drive him to city hall. At 10:14 a.m., about half an hour before Moscone's press announcement, White arrived at the Polk Street side of city hall. He walked into the front entrance, and that was when he saw the metal detectors. To circumvent them, he snuck into the building through a first floor window and made his way to Moscone's office. Moscone was in the inner office with Willie Brown, and White waited for Moscone's meeting to end. At 10:40 a.m., he walked into Moscone's office just as Brown left. The two talked for a while, with White inquiring whether he would be reinstated on the board. Moscone maintained that he would not, and White became agitated. What happened next would be the most violent event in the history of San Francisco politics.