Tragic Shooting in Shrewsbury
A father of three, who was preparing to get married later this month, was shot dead after confronting a man spray-painting graffiti on a bridge in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, according to police reports.
Kevin Doherty, 56, took a photograph of 26-year-old Snehal Srivastava and became involved in an argument before 9 a.m. on August 28th. The situation reportedly escalated into a physical fight.
Doherty, who had just dropped his six-year-old son off at school, called 911 during the altercation. The dispatcher heard several gunshots; shortly after, Doherty informed them that he had been shot before the line went silent. He was quickly taken to UMass Medical Center but sadly did not survive.
Srivastava, who lacked a firearm license, was arrested and initially charged with armed assault and two counts of illegal firearm possession. Those charges were later elevated to murder, and he is being held without bail.
The day after the shooting, police utilized drones, in collaboration with Massachusetts State Police, to locate Srivastava hiding in a residence near Edgewater Avenue. SWAT team members were seen entering the property, which was covered in graffiti featuring phrases like “Free Palestine” and “BLM.”
Doherty’s fiancée, Sarah Scofield, expressed deep sorrow over his death. She remarked on the impossibility of finding words to convey their immense pain. “There’s no way to describe the overwhelming sadness we feel,” she stated, noting that they even had to cancel funeral plans under such heartbreaking circumstances.
She remembered him fondly, saying he was always cheerful and had a great sense of humor. According to his obituary, Doherty was passionate about music, golf, and hockey. His funeral was held on Saturday.
In a statement, Police Chief Kevin Anderson labeled the incident a “meaningless act of violence” and extended condolences to the victim’s family. He acknowledged the profound impact of such a sudden loss on the community.
Interestingly, Srivastava has a history of violent incidents dating back to 2015, illuminating a troubling pattern that raises serious concerns. In a previous case, a victim described a machete attack by the same individual, though that case was ultimately dismissed due to a failure to indict.
Community members have begun to pay tribute to Doherty, leaving flowers and chalk messages near the location where the tragedy unfolded, reflecting the love and loss felt by many.
