On the morning of August 28, 2025, a white male named Kevin Doherty, age 56, was walking home in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, after dropping his six-year-old son off at the Coolidge School. His life was abruptly taken in a violent encounter near Jordan Pond. Doherty was a beloved father of three and was engaged to be married in just a few weeks. Described as a funny and kind man who woke up with a smile on his face each morning, he was a cherished member of his community.
As Doherty made his way home, he noticed a man spray-painting graffiti on a bridge. He took out his cellphone to take a picture of the vandalism, which led to an altercation. A witness reported seeing the two men arguing. During the dispute, Doherty called 911 to report the incident. While he was on the phone with the dispatcher, the situation escalated tragically. The 911 operator heard gunshots over the line, followed by Doherty's voice saying, "He shot me." When police arrived, they found him with multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Snehal Srivastava of Shrewsbury, fled the scene, prompting a large-scale manhunt in the area. Law enforcement, with the assistance of drones, located Srivastava barricaded inside a nearby home that was covered in graffiti. After negotiations with a State Police Tactical Operations team, he surrendered to authorities. Srivastava was arrested and has since been charged with armed assault with intent to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. He was ordered to be held without bail.
It was later revealed that Srivastava had a significant and troubled history with law enforcement, with a criminal record dating back to 2015. Notably, he had been arrested in 2022 for allegedly attacking a man with a machete in a movie theater parking lot. That case, however, was dismissed just a month before the fatal shooting of Kevin Doherty, a fact that has raised concerns within the community. The investigation into Doherty's death is ongoing, and the charges against Srivastava are expected to be upgraded. The community has since come together to support Doherty's grieving family, holding vigils and fundraisers in his memory.
