Shalini Thakur, a 38-year-old Sacramento resident, was shot and killed on Tuesday afternoon outside a Panera Bread restaurant on Howe Avenue, according to Sacramento County sheriff’s officials. Investigators stated that Rohit Rohit, 22, of Sacramento, chased Thakur through the parking lot and shot her before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.
Pursuit and Suspect Death on Highway 50
Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies located the suspect vehicle on Highway 50 in Sacramento. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Rohit took his own life after deputies caught up with him. Sudesh Kumari, Thakur’s mother, told KCRA 3 that she had spoken with her daughter by phone at approximately 2 p.m. Tuesday, roughly an hour before the shooting occurred. Kumari stated that Thakur was her only child and that her husband passed away two years ago.
Months of Stalking and Prior Incidents
According to sheriff’s homicide investigators, Rohit had been tailing and harassing Thakur as early as January, when she uncovered an Apple AirTag concealed beneath her car’s hood. According to Sgt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, the two worked for different employers but were friends who had known each other for a couple of years. Gandhi noted that Rohit’s behavior escalated into an obsession, with the suspect telling Thakur he wanted to marry her.
Investigators documented multiple stalking incidents leading up to the homicide. According to the Sheriff’s Office, Rohit deflated a tire on Thakur’s vehicle and followed her to work to offer assistance. In another instance, he obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered her home while she was sleeping, though investigators did not determine how he acquired the key. Thakur first reported the harassment to authorities in March but initially declined to pursue criminal charges or seek a restraining order, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Restraining Order and Immigration Status
Despite Thakur initially declining to press charges, deputies and detectives maintained contact with her due to ongoing safety concerns. Sheriff’s officials stated that deputies urged Thakur again in May to obtain a restraining order, which she subsequently filed. In her court petition, Thakur wrote that she knew Rohit through DoorDash, according to the Sacramento Bee.
In a statement released on Friday, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that Rohit held Indian citizenship and had crossed into the United States without authorization through Arizona in August 2023. U.S. Border Patrol arrested him before releasing him into the country, according to the agency. Homeland Security officials issued a statement criticizing immigration policies regarding his release.
Funeral and Community Mourning
Friends, family, and coworkers have organized memorial efforts following the killing. Daljit Khangura established an online GoFundMe campaign to assist Thakur’s family with funeral and expenses, describing her as a caring, selfless, and generous woman. Thakur’s family scheduled a funeral service for Monday morning at a funeral home in Old North Sacramento, according to her online obituary.
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