OAKLAND, California, USA (AP) – A security guard died after being shot while guarding a San Francisco Bay Area television news crew covering an attempted robbery, which is part of a wave of organized crime in the region.
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“We are devastated by the loss of the security guard and our friend, Kevin Nishita. Our condolences to Kevin’s wife, his children, his family and all his friends and colleagues, ”said Jim Rose, vice president and general manager of KRON Television, in a statement released Saturday.
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Nishita was an armed security guard for the Star Protection Agency and provided the service to television news crews in the region, who are often targeted for robberies by their equipment.
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He was shot in the abdomen during an attempted robbery of television camera equipment near downtown Oakland on Wednesday, according to police.
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The news crew was covering a recent robbery in which a group of thieves broke in and took items from a clothing store.
A $ 32,500 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest in the case of Nishita’s death.
Nishita was a police officer for the cities of Hayward, San Jose and Colma before retiring in 2018. The Alameda County Police Department noted that officers escorted his body from the hospital with the full honors of the law.
“This senseless loss of life is due to another violent criminal act in the Bay Area. We hope that the offer of a reward will contribute to the arrest of those responsible so that they can face justice for this terrible tragedy, ”said Rose.
The region has been affected by organized robberies in shops in which groups of thieves, some with crowbars and hammers, break into high-end stores and take the merchandise.
Similar thefts have been reported in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, as well as in other parts of the country.
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Associated Press radio journalist Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.
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