Oakland police increase reward for tips leading to arrest in security guard's slaying

The Oakland Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Oakland are offering a $32,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the case of a security guard, Kevin Nishita, who was killed in an attempted robbery while on assignment protecting a Bay Area TV crew. 

Nishita died of his injuries on Saturday. He was shot early Wednesday while out on assignment with a KRON4 news crew.

“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,” KRON4 vice president and general manager Jim Rose said in a statement.

Nishita was a police officer at the Oakland Housing Authority, Hayward Police, San Jose Police and the Colma Police departments before he retired from the force in 2018. "Kevin was a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a co-worker and a friend," the Colma Police Department said in a statement. "He will be dearly missed."

Oakland Police said the suspect's vehicle is a white four-door 2004-2008 Acura TL with a sunroof and no front license plate. 

On Twitter, KRON4 journalists publicly mourned the loss of their longtime colleague. "Kevin Nishita. He was our friend. He was an officer and a gentleman in every sense of the word," tweeted KRON4 anchor/reporter Will Tran. "I literally texted him yesterday telling him if needs anything let me know. This isn’t fair. There are killers still out there who ripped him from his family."

"Kevin was genuine, humble and always did the job with a smile on his face. He was our private security guard that kept our team and numerous other Bay Area reporters safe while our in the field," tweeted reporter Camila Barco. "Kevin will be missed."

Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Oakland Police Department's Homicide Section at (510) 238-3821 or call Crime Stoppers at (510) 777-8572.