Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong speaks to the press.

OAKLAND — Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong on Dec. 22 announced arrests in connection with the death of Kevin Nishita, who was guarding a TV news crew when he was shot.

“We have made two arrests in that case,” Armstrong said. “We continue to investigate the case and work with the (Alameda County) District Attorney’s Office on charging.

“We feel strongly that we’ve identified the third suspect as well that we are seeking right now with the help of our law enforcement partners … We are closing in on this investigation. We have worked diligently around the clock to identify the people responsible.

“We really do thank the community for all the information that they brought forth to help us solve this case. I believe that their assistance was key in identifying that vehicle that we recovered … fairly quickly after pushing it out to the community, and then our officers and particularly our homicide investigators have been working with local law enforcement agencies across the Bay Area to help us identify the people that we believe were responsible for this heinous crime.

Kevin Nishita

“I won’t be releasing names today because we are still working with the District Attorney’s Office on charging and we are also looking for a third suspect.”

Armstrong confirmed that one of the suspects arrested was the owner of the 2005 White Acura believed to have been used in the crime.

The chief added that the two suspects already had warrants out for their arrest in connection with other crimes, “but the homicide charges are coming.”

Nishita, a former officer with the Hayward, Colma and San Jose police departments, was shot while protecting a KRON 4 reporter in Downtown Oakland on Nov. 24 and later died of his injuries. The OPD said there was no reason  to believe that Nishita was specifically targeted.

Law enforcement from multiple Bay Area agcncies attended a memorial for Nishita earlier this month at the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

A trust fund has been set up by Nishita’s employer, Star Protection Agency, on behalf of his family. Deposits to the Kevin Nishita Trust Fund can be made at Metropolitan Bank, 381 8th St., Oakland, CA 94607.