March 17, 2022
OAKLAND, California—The identities of the three suspects charged with the murder of former police officer Kevin Nishita back in November 2021 were finally released today, Thursday, March 17.
The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office released the mug shots of Laron Marques Gilbert, Hershel Hale, and Shadihia Mitchell. All African-American males, Hale has at least one previous arrest back in 2018, reports KRON4.
Multiple African-American social media posts claimed Nishita’s murderers were Latino or “violent Asian gang members” at the time of the murder.
All three men were charged by the District Attorney’s Office in connection to the homicide.
On November 24, 2021, Nishita was on assignment guarding a KRON4 news reporter covering a crime story in Oakland on 14th Street. He was shot while trying to prevent the theft of the news crew’s camera equipment.
Nishita died in a hospital three days after the shooting. No one else was injured during the robbery, according to KRON4.
Nishita formerly served as a police officer for the Hayward Police Department, San Jose Police Department, and Colma Police Department.
The former police officer worked for Star Security, which sends guards to protect Bay Area television news reporters while they are out covering stories, reports KRON4.
Nishita leaves behind a wife, two children, and three grandchildren.
Feature Images via KRON4