Snehal Srivastava Held Without Bail in Fatal Shrewsbury Shooting Following Graffiti Dispute

Shrewsbury, Massachusetts – Snehal Srivastava, 26, has been ordered held without bail following his arrest in connection with the fatal shooting of 57-year-old Kevin Doherty on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The incident occurred near Jordan Pond after Doherty reportedly confronted Srivastava about spray-painting graffiti. Doherty, a father who had just dropped off his son at school, was found with multiple gunshot wounds after calling 911. Dispatchers reportedly heard Doherty exclaim, "He shot me," before the line went silent.

Police responded to the scene and found Doherty, who was later pronounced dead at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Investigators identified Srivastava through photographs Doherty had taken on his phone moments before the shooting. A witness also reported seeing the two men arguing over a scooter before the gunfire erupted. Srivastava was apprehended at his home on Edgewater Avenue, which was notably covered in various graffiti.

Srivastava, also known by the social media moniker "Sasha Shakur," has an extensive history with local police dating back to 2015. While police reports initially used male pronouns, Srivastava's defense attorney stated in court that gender identification is still being determined. Some commentators, including Andy Ngo, have highlighted Srivastava's self-identification as a trans individual in the context of the arrest. The graffiti on his residence included slogans such as "Free Palestine," "Free Congo," "BLM," and "GLM."

Court records reveal Srivastava's past legal troubles, including a 2022 incident in Westborough where he allegedly attacked a man with a machete. That case, along with other charges like home invasion and assault, were later dismissed for "lack of prosecution" or following bench trials, despite multiple competency evaluations at Bridgewater State Hospital. Authorities had previously responded to graffiti on the Jordan Pond trail, including "Coolidge Street Crips," which was linked to Srivastava.

Srivastava currently faces charges of armed assault with intent to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. He is scheduled for a dangerousness hearing on September 12. The arrest has drawn attention from social media figures like Andy Ngo, who, in a tweet, connected the Shrewsbury incident to a separate shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis that occurred in October 2024, implying a broader pattern.