Oakland police searching for 3rd suspect wanted in murder of Kevin Nishita
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Oakland Police are still searching for a third suspect charged in the murder of former police officer and Bay Area TV news security guard Kevin Nishita.
Prosecutors in Alameda County say they have charged three people in the fatal shooting of Nishita who was shot and killed while protecting a local TV news crew last November.
"Today I want to announce two arrests in the Kevin Nishita homicide," said Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong.
Police say the suspected shooter, 25-year-old Shadihia Mitchell was arrested Wednesday in San Francisco, 24-year-old Hershel Hale was already in SFPD custody on unrelated charges. However, 27-year-old Laron Gilbert, the suspected getaway driver remains at-large.
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"All three defendants have been charged with murder, attempted second degree robbery and assault with a semi-automatic firearm," said Alameda County Assistant DA, Michael Nieto.
Chief Armstrong says tips from the public in both Oakland and San Francisco helped make the arrests.
"When I asked for help and to solve this case you did, it lead to the arrest of the individuals," Armstrong said.
Armstrong confirmed one of the suspects arrested was the owner of the 2005 White Acura used in the crime.
VIDEO: TV news guard fatally shot in Oakland remembered as 'caring, courageous' at memorial
Kevin Nishita was a former officer with San Jose, Hayward and Colma Police departments. A memorial honoring Nashita drew thousands of of people last December. At the time, the Nishita family made this appeal for the suspects to come forward.
"We're seeking to find the reasoning behind this, so we can have closure," said Virginia Nishita last December.
"To the Nishita family I've spoken to his wife, I committed that we wanted to do everything we could to identify the people responsible. It's rewarding to come before her and family to say we've identify those individuals," Armstrong said.
Police believe Nishita's murder was likely a crime of opportunity. They don't know if the suspects are responsible for robberies of other local media crews.
The suspected shooter, Mitchell is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday in Alameda County.
