GoFundMe, trust fund set up for slain security guard

Fundraiser for Kevin Nishita has brought in over $13,000

A fundraiser and trust fund has been set up for the family of security guard and former police officer Kevin Nishita, who died Saturday after being shot in Oakland during an attempted robbery earlier in the week.

As of Sunday, the fundraiser has 167 donations and had brought in over $13,000.

Several friends and former colleagues of Nishita’s wrote comments along with their contribution. The GoFundMe was set up by longtime friend Scott Lawrie.

“Kevin always brought joy and would instantly light up the room with his smile!” wrote Beth Minor, who said she knew Nishita from college. “My deepest condolences to his family.”

Nishita, an employee of Star Protection Agency who was guarding a KRON4 news crew on Wednesday, was shot at the 300 block of 14th Street when assailants tried to steal the station’s camera equipment.

Those who would like to contribute to Nishita’s trust fund can also send money to Metropolitan Bank at 381 8th Street, Oakland, CA, 94607 with “Kevin Nishita Trust Fund” as the recipient, multiple news agencies reported.

Any Metropolitan Bank branch will also be taking donations.

Community members from across the Bay Area continued to share words about Nishita over the weekend and condemned the violence that took place.

“My heart breaks for the family and friends of KRON security guard Kevin Nishita,” tweeted Oakland Councilmember Sheng Thao.

She wrote that Oakland and other cities are “facing a gun violence emergency” that requires a “comprehensive response that includes inter-agency public safety task forces sufficient officers on the beat, a refocus of priorities on violent offenses, more investment in violence prevention, and a redoubled effort to get guns off our streets.”

Thao also advertised a special city council meeting Dec. 7 where gun violence prevention will be addressed.

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Haney wrote on Twitter that he had met Nishita a “number of times” and that he was “kind, engaged, warm, & professional.”

“Reporters & their entire crews do essential work for all us & for our democracy,” he wrote. “They should never have to fear for their lives when doing it.”

Rep. Jackie Speier called Nishita “a true hero.”

“My prayers are with his family in this senseless loss of life,” she wrote over Twitter.

Mike Inouye, the traffic anchor for NBC Bay Area, indicated in a Facebook post that Nishita was a member of the Mountain View Buddhist Temple.

Authorities said Nishita suffered a lower abdomen injury before succumbing to his wounds three days later at Highland Hospital. The news station had been reporting on the recent robbery of a clothing store near the location of the incident.

A former officer with the San Jose, Hayward and Colma police departments, Nishita started his law enforcement career with the Oakland Housing Authority Police Department.

Authorities are offering a reward of $32,000 to anyone with information about the incident.

On Sunday, Oakland experienced its 127th death being investigated by Oakland Police when a man was shot and killed after confronting a car burglary suspect.

The highest number of deaths being investigated by the police is 131 in 2012.