Indian-origin woman shot dead outside California restaurant; suspect had stalked her for months
Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot outside a Sacramento-area restaurant on September 8. The suspect, Rohit, had stalked her since January and later killed himself.
An Indian-origin woman was shot and killed outside a restaurant in California earlier this month, in a case that authorities say followed months of stalking by a 22-year-old man from India.
Shalini Thakur, 38, was killed on September 8 at a shopping centre in Sacramento. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said the suspect, identified as Rohit, was waiting for her outside a Panera Bread outlet near Howe and Northrop avenues.
Investigators said Rohit confronted Thakur at her car. When she tried to run, he chased her, drew a gun and fired several times. After she collapsed, he fired another shot into her head at close range before fleeing in his vehicle, according to the US Department of Homeland Security.
Rohit was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a standoff with police on Highway 50. The confrontation brought traffic to a standstill for hours.
A pattern of stalking
Authorities said Rohit had stalked Thakur since January, when she discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her car. The harassment escalated over the following months.
On one occasion, Rohit allegedly deflated her vehicle's tyre and followed her to work so that he could offer assistance. He also obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered her home while she slept, the sheriff's office said. When she confronted him the next morning, he claimed he had entered out of concern because she had not answered.
Thakur obtained a restraining order against Rohit in May after deputies again urged her to seek one. Despite the order, he continued to stalk her as recently as July. On July 29, deputies received a report that he had left random grocery items at her front door, which would have violated the restraining order. Deputies tried to contact Rohit twice after that.
Immigration status
The Department of Homeland Security said Rohit was an undocumented immigrant who entered the United States through Arizona in 2023. He was apprehended by US Border Patrol and released under the administration of President Joe Biden, the department said. His exact legal residency status remained unclear.
Investigators said Rohit had no known local criminal history.
A DHS spokesperson said the killing could have been avoided, criticising the release of the suspect into the country and calling for an end to what the spokesperson described as reckless policies. The spokesperson extended condolences to Thakur's family.