Student shot dead while playing Pokemon Go

A student was shot dead on Saturday night while playing Pokemon Go at a San Francisco tourist attraction.

Calvin Riley was shot at Aquatic Park, a tourist attraction filled with shops and restaurants.

A family friend told KGO-TV that the 20-year-old and a friend were playing the virtual reality game, when someone came up and shot the San Joaquin Delta College baseball player in the back and ran away.

"From what we know there was no confrontation. There was nothing said back and forth. It was just senseless, just came up and shot in the back and ran away for nothing," John Kirby, a family friend said. 

Mr Kirby added that the pair had noticed someone watching them from the top of a hill that overlooks the park, but it was dark and they were mostly looking at their phones.

Players have been warned about the possible dangers of the games, saying users can become engrossed in the game and tune out from their surroundings.

In July three teenagers had their mobiles stolen at gunpoint while playing the game, while players in Somerset had to be rescued by the coastguard after almost being cut off by the rising tide.

Image Credit: Delta College Mustangs