Men convicted in 2021 Oakland killing of Kevin Nishita sentenced to lengthy prison terms
A judge in Alameda County on Tuesday sentenced three men convicted in the 2021 killing of Bay Area police sergeant and security guard Kevin Nishita to decades in prison.
Laron Gilbert, who pleaded no contest to first-degree murder with a gang enhancement, was sentenced to 30 years to life. Co-defendants Shadihia Mitchell and Hershel Hale received 25-year sentences after pleading no contest to robbery.
All three men accepted plea deals in February, ahead of a scheduled trial.
Nishita was shot on Nov. 24, 2021, while working as a security guard for a television news crew in downtown Oakland and died from his injuries several days later. Authorities said the three men tried to steal camera equipment and Nishita stepped in to stop them.
In her victim's impact statement, Nishita's wife, Virginia, recalled the phone call they got that morning, asking him to work for "just a few hours."
"And for me, saying 'OK' has haunted me," said Virginia Nishita. "I wish I could go back to that day and say, 'no, it's your day off. Let's prepare our Thanksgiving meal. Let's continue what we're doing. Don't go to work.' I wish I could go back to that day...and say, no."
Hale and Mitchell were arrested in 2022. Gilbert was arrested in early 2024 after being found by U.S Marshals near Kansas City, Missouri.
The case dragged on for years, and the family became enraged when former District Attorney Pamela Price attempted to downgrade the charges against the three men. As a result, Virginia became heavily involved with the successful effort to recall Price from office.
"You know, for the first couple years, I was fighting for justice to be here in these courtrooms, with the prior administration. And I wasn't able to grieve," she said. "Now it's time for healing. It's time, not to forget Kevin Nishita, but it's time to learn to live without him."
After retiring from a career in law enforcement, Nishita worked as a guard for various TV news crews in the Bay Area, including KPIX.
Nishita had worked for several police agencies, including the San Jose Police Department, Hayward Police Department and Colma Police Department, where he was promoted to sergeant.
