Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- November 24, 2021
- Location
- Oakland, California
- Assailant
- Private individual
- Was the journalist targeted?
- Yes
Assault
Three suspects charged in fatal shooting of Bay Area broadcast security guard
On March 16, 2022, three individuals were charged in the homicide of KRON4 security guard Kevin Nishita in November 2021.
KTVU reported that two individuals are in police custody and officers are working to locate the third. The three suspects — identified by KTVU as Laron Gilbert, Herschel Hale and Shadihia Mitchell — are each charged with murder, attempted robbery and assault.
Two suspects arrested in fatal shooting of Bay Area broadcast security guard
Two people were arrested on Dec. 22, 2021, in connection to the fatal shooting of security guard Kevin Nishita as he protected a reporter from an armed robbery in Oakland, California.
Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong said during a press conference that a third suspect had also been identified but did not name any of the people involved.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Alameda County District Attorney’s office has not yet filed any charges against the three suspects but Armstrong said his department was working toward securing murder charges against all involved.
On Nov. 24, Nishita was accompanying a KRON-TV reporter on assignment covering a robbery in downtown Oakland when an armed individual attempted to steal the reporter’s camera. The reporter was not physically injured but Nishita, who was shot in the abdomen, later died.
“We have worked diligently around the clock to identify the people responsible. We really do thank the community for all of the information that they’ve brought forth to help us solve this case,” Armstrong said.
An unidentified reporter for San Francisco-based broadcaster KRON4 News was robbed at gunpoint while reporting in downtown Oakland, California, on Nov. 24, 2021. The security guard accompanying the reporter was shot in the confrontation and later died from his injuries.
KRON4 reported that the news crew was covering a recent robbery where 12 thieves donning masks and hoods raided a nearby clothing store. According to police, an assailant attempted to steal the news crew’s camera equipment at 12:19 p.m.
The armed security guard, Kevin Nishita, was shot in the lower abdomen; the reporter was not physically injured. KRON4 reported that Nishita, a retired police officer, died from his injuries on the morning of Nov. 27.
Police and the broadcast station are offering a reward of $32,500 for information leading to an arrest of those involved in the shooting. The investigation is still ongoing as of press time, according to reporting by KRON4 reporter Will Tran.
Jim Rose, KRON4’s vice president and general manager, said in a statement that the station regularly uses security guards to protect their reporters in the field. In a statement released after Nishita’s passing, Rose said:
“We are devastated by the loss of security guard and our friend, Kevin Nishita. Our deepest sympathy goes to Kevin’s wife, his children, his family, and to all his friends and colleagues. This senseless loss of life is due to yet another violent criminal act in the Bay Area. We hope that offering a reward will help lead to the arrest of those responsible so they can face justice for this terrible tragedy.”
Multiple other armed robberies took place in the Bay Area earlier this year.
The station did not respond to a request for further comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].