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Three Men Convicted in 2021 Killing of Bay Area Security Guard Kevin Nishita
Laron Gilbert pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, while two other men were convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements.
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
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Three men have been convicted in the 2021 death of Kevin Nishita, a Bay Area security guard who was shot and killed while protecting a television news crew during an attempted robbery in Oakland. Laron Gilbert, 31, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, while Shadihia Mitchell, 29, and Hershel Hale, 28, were convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements.
Why it matters
Nishita's death highlighted the dangers journalists and media crews face while reporting in the field, as well as the ongoing issue of violent crime in the Bay Area. The convictions bring some closure to Nishita's family and colleagues, who remembered him as a dedicated public servant and cheerful personality.
The details
Nishita, a retired police officer, was assigned to protect a KRON-TV journalist reporting on a recent burglary when a group of men tried to steal the television camera. Nishita intervened and was shot in the abdomen, dying from his injuries days later. Gilbert pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, while Mitchell and Hale were convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements. Gilbert faces 30 years to life in prison, while Mitchell and Hale each face 25 years.
- Nishita was shot and killed in November 2021 while protecting a television news crew.
- Gilbert was arrested near Kansas City, Missouri in December 2021.
- The three men are set to be sentenced on April 7, 2026.
The players
Laron Gilbert
A 31-year-old man who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in Nishita's death.
Shadihia Mitchell
A 29-year-old man convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements related to Nishita's death.
Hershel Hale
A 28-year-old man convicted of robbery and additional sentencing enhancements related to Nishita's death.
Kevin Nishita
A 56-year-old retired police officer who was working as a security guard and was killed while protecting a television news crew.
Ursula Jones Dickson
The Alameda County District Attorney who said Gilbert's guilty plea was a testament to the strength of the case built by her office and the Oakland Police Department.
What they’re saying
“The resolution of this case is both extraordinary and rare.”
— Ursula Jones Dickson, Alameda County District Attorney
“We stand with the Nishita family as they continue to live with the loss of their loved one. We are and will continue to fight for victims of crime to see that justice is done.”
— Ursula Jones Dickson, Alameda County District Attorney
What’s next
The three men are set to be sentenced on April 7, 2026.
The takeaway
Nishita's death highlighted the dangers journalists and media crews face while reporting in the field, as well as the ongoing issue of violent crime in the Bay Area. The convictions bring some closure to Nishita's family and colleagues, who remembered him as a dedicated public servant and cheerful personality.
