A 56-year-old father of three was fatally shot after confronting a man he saw spray-painting graffiti on a bridge in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, police said.
Kevin Doherty was shot shortly before 9 a.m. on Aug. 28 near Jordan Pond after he took photos of a 26-year-old man identified by authorities as Snehal Srivastava allegedly defacing the ground and engaged him in an argument that escalated into a physical struggle, according to court records and police statements. Doherty, who had just dropped his 6-year-old son at school and was walking home, called 911 during the confrontation; dispatchers reported hearing multiple gunshots and then Doherty telling them he had been shot before the line went silent. He was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center, where he died.
Shrewsbury Police, assisted by Massachusetts State Police, arrested Srivastava the day after the killing. Officers used drone technology to locate him hiding inside a residence on Edgewater Avenue, where a SWAT team and a K-9 entered the home, police said. Srivastava was taken into custody and initially arraigned on one count of armed assault to murder and two counts of carrying a firearm without a license; prosecutors later upgraded the charges to murder. He was held without bail.
Police said Srivastava did not have a license to carry a firearm. Authorities also reported extensive graffiti on the exterior walls of the house where he was found, including the phrases "Ganga Gardens," "Free Palestine," "Free Congo," "BLM" and "GLM."
Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson called the killing a "senseless act of violence" and extended condolences to Doherty's family. "Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time," Anderson said in a department statement. "No words can ease the pain of such a sudden and devastating loss, but please know that our entire department stands with the family and the community in mourning."
Doherty's fiancée, Sarah Schofield, released a statement describing the family's grief. "The saying is true, there are no words that can fully capture the overwhelming pain and grief that we are experiencing," she wrote. Schofield said the couple had been planning a wedding later this month and lamented the abrupt shift from planning a marriage to arranging a funeral. Doherty's obituary described him as an avid music lover, a passionate golfer and an enthusiastic hockey fan. His funeral mass was held Saturday.
Court records and local reports indicate Srivastava has a history of violent arrests dating back to 2015. Media outlets reported a 2022 case in which a man accused Srivastava of attacking him in a Regal Cinema parking lot while brandishing a machete; that case was dismissed in July, with court paperwork citing "failure to prosecute."
Video and public records reviewed by investigators are expected to be part of the prosecution's case. In their initial response, dispatch recordings and statements by responding officers were cited by police as documenting Doherty's call for help and the shots heard by emergency operators.
Community members placed chalk messages and flowers near the scene, and a walking trail adjacent to Jordan Pond displayed notes saying "For Kevin" and "You are loved." Local officials said they were coordinating with prosecutors as the investigation continued.
Authorities asked anyone with additional information, witnesses or video of the encounter to contact the Shrewsbury Police Department. The state police and local law enforcement said they would continue to provide updates as charges progress through the court system.
