Kevin Nishita.Photo: Town of Colma
Laron Marques Gilbert, Hershel Hale, and Shadihia Mitchell were each charged with murder, attempted second-degree robbery, and assault with a semi-automatic firearm in connection with the November death of Kevin Nishita.
The news crew was covering previous smash-and-grab thefts,KPIXreported.
The father of two was shot in the abdomen and died in the hospital three days later,NBC Newsreported.
Shadihia Mitchell, Laron Gilbert, Hershel Hale.Oakland Police Department (3)
Nishita previously served as a police officer for the cities of Hayward, San Jose and Colma before retiring in 2018.
“His passion was to protect and to serve,” Nishita’s wife Gina said at the Radio Television Digital News Foundation’s citation of courage award earlier this month, KRON4 reported. “Kevin went above and beyond as a security guard for the Bay Area news crews. He developed true friendships with the teams of the newscasters of each network.”
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“For example, we went on vacation, he bought multiple umbrellas and I asked him, ‘Why did you buy so many?’ And his response was, so that when they film outside, and it was raining, that he could protect the news crews from the elements,” she said. “Another time, Kevin drove two hours outside of his way to make sure that the news reporter would reach her home safely that night.”
Mitchell was arraigned on Friday but has yet to enter a plea. His next hearing is scheduled on April 15. His attorney could not be reached for comment.
Hale has yet to be arraigned.
source: people.com
