Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price has announced the filing of first-degree murder charges against two San Francisco residents accused of the fatal shooting of security guard Kevin Nishita during a robbery in Oakland last year. "My office has reached a decision regarding the charges against two of the three defendants accused of murdering Kevin Nishita," Price said in a statement obtained by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Shadihia Mitchell and Hershel Hale, the defendants, could potentially face 25-year to life sentences.
Nishita, a retired police officer, was killed on November 24, 2022, while guarding a television news crew for KRON4. According to a report by SFist, though two suspects are in custody, a third suspect, Laron Gilbert, remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Oakland police are urging anyone with information on Gilbert's whereabouts to come forward.
The tragedy, occurring two years ago during an attempted theft of camera equipment, left Nishita succumbing to his injuries three days after the shooting. Nishita, who served several departments, including the Colma Police Department, was honored with a drawing at the police station as "a daily reminder of his service," according to a tribute by KRON4. His life was marked by a commitment to fair treatment, mentorship, and a sense of protection that permeated both his professional and personal interactions.
The case stands as a poignant reminder of the risks faced by those who serve to protect, a sentiment echoed by Pamela Price in conversation with KRON4. She said, "I realize there is nothing that I can say that will remove their anguish because, ultimately, no charge will undo the senseless act of violence that killed him." Mitchell and Hale, the suspects in custody, are awaiting trial and will appear in court again on November 27.
