OAKLAND, Calif. (Diya TV) — Three men convicted in the killing of Kevin Nishita, a Bay Area security guard and former police officer, were sentenced Tuesday in a case that drew widespread attention across Northern California. Authorities said Nishita was shot and killed in November 2021 during an attempted robbery while protecting a television news crew in Oakland. The sentencing brings a measure of closure to a case that deeply affected his family, friends, and the local community.
The gunman, Laron Gilbert, received a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Prosecutors said Gilbert fired the fatal shots during the attempted robbery. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. His accomplices, Shadihia Mitchell and Hershel Hale, also pleaded guilty. Both were admitted to robbery with gang enhancements. The court sentenced each of them to 25 years in prison. All three defendants will be eligible for parole in the future.
Nishita’s widow, Virginia Nishita, spoke after the sentencing. She expressed grief but also a sense of justice.
“There are no winners here,” she said. “Kevin will never come home, and today justice prevailed.”
She said she appreciates that the defendants accepted responsibility and avoided a lengthy trial. However, she made clear that forgiveness remains out of reach.
“That is what Kevin would want,” she said. “Kevin was a true believer — if you do the crime, you do the time.”
In a statement read by his attorney, Gilbert apologized to both Nishita’s family and his own. He said he never intended to kill Nishita and claimed he is committed to rehabilitation. The other two defendants did not make statements in court. Nishita’s loved ones questioned whether Gilbert’s apology was genuine. Frank Venuti, Nishita’s close friend, expressed skepticism.
“I don’t know if I believe it or not,” Venuti said. “These folks have been repeat offenders. They’ve been in prison. They have gotten out. They went back and committed crimes again.”
The killing of Nishita shocked the Bay Area. He had served as a police officer before working as a private security guard. At the time of the shooting, he was protecting a news crew covering crime in Oakland. The case highlighted ongoing concerns about violent crime and safety for journalists and security personnel. Community members followed the case closely as it moved through the courts. Venuti said he hopes the sentences prevent further harm.
“I think the biggest legacy to leave Kevin is just that these folks won’t be able to hurt somebody else again, as they did us,” he said.
Despite the sentencing, the case will not fully close for Nishita’s family. Because all three men are eligible for parole, future hearings will play a critical role. Virginia Nishita said she plans to attend every parole hearing. She wants to ensure her husband’s story remains part of the process.
“If these legs will walk, I will walk into those parole hearings to make them know what a difference this made in my life, my children’s lives,” she said.
