A 38-year-old Indian-origin woman was shot dead outside a restaurant in Sacramento, California, on Tuesday after she was allegedly stalked and harassed for months by a 22-year-old man.
The victim, Shalini Thakur, was reportedly being dropped at her workplace in the Arden Arcade area when the suspect, identified as Rohit, approached and confronted her. According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Thakur tried to escape, but the suspect allegedly chased her and shot her several times.
He allegedly fired another shot at her head at close range. Police responding to the incident around 3 pm found Thakur unresponsive outside a Panera Bread outlet on Howe Avenue. Emergency medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.
The suspect fled the area in a vehicle following the shooting. Witnesses provided police with details of the vehicle, which were entered into the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office’s automated license plate reader system.
Officers later located the vehicle on eastbound Highway 50. When police attempted to stop it, the driver brought the vehicle to a halt. The California Highway Patrol subsequently closed the eastbound lanes because of the police operation.
Video from the scene showed several sheriff’s vehicles surrounding the suspect’s car. Officers approached the vehicle with weapons drawn, while a drone was also deployed.
Police eventually found Rohit unconscious in the driver’s seat with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead. Authorities said there was no indication that deputies had fired at him.
Investigators are also examining allegations that Rohit had stalked and harassed Thakur for several months. According to reports, an AirTag was allegedly placed under her car in January. The alleged harassment later included deflating a vehicle tyre and following her to work.
The suspect also allegedly obtained a copy of Thakur’s apartment key and entered her home while she was sleeping. When confronted, he reportedly claimed that he had entered because he was worried after she did not respond to him.
Thakur had initially declined to pursue criminal charges or seek a restraining order. Authorities later encouraged her to obtain one, and the order was served on Rohit on May 19.
Police allege that he violated the order on July 29 by leaving grocery items outside Thakur’s apartment. Deputies reportedly attempted to contact him on two occasions.
Thakur’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, told India Today that her daughter had faced stalking and harassment for nearly a year. She said Rohit wanted to marry her, but Thakur had rejected him.
Kumari said she last spoke to her daughter at 1:58 pm on Tuesday, shortly before the shooting. When Thakur did not call back, her mother repeatedly tried to contact her and sent WhatsApp messages expressing concern.
The US Department of Homeland Security said Rohit was an Indian national who entered the United States through Arizona in 2023. He had previously been arrested by US Border Patrol and released by the Biden administration.
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