SACRAMENTO, CA. (THECOUNT) — California woman, Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot and killed Tuesday afternoon outside a Panera Bread restaurant in Sacramento County after authorities said she was confronted and chased by a man who had allegedly stalked her for months and was reportedly in the United States illegally.
The shooting occurred shortly before 3 p.m. Sept. 8 at the shopping center near Howe Avenue and Northrop Avenue, in the Arden-Arcade area of Sacramento, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
Advertisement
Investigators identified the suspected shooter as Rohit Rohit, 22. Authorities said Rohit fled the scene in a vehicle and was later located by deputies on eastbound Highway 50 near Watt Avenue.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Amar Gandhi said Rohit approached Thakur outside the business and “began to accost her.” When Thakur attempted to run away, Rohit allegedly chased her, pulled out a firearm and shot her multiple times.
Gandhi said Rohit then walked toward Thakur as she lay on the sidewalk and shot her in the head at close range. Thakur was pronounced dead at the scene.
Deputies tracked Rohit’s vehicle and attempted to contact him after locating him on Highway 50. Officials said he stopped suddenly and was later found deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The sheriff’s office said the killing followed months of alleged stalking and harassment. Thakur reportedly knew Rohit through his DoorDash pickups from her workplace. Reports have described Thakur as a waitress who worked at the Panera Bread restaurant where the shooting occurred.
According to court documents obtained by local news outlets, Thakur reported that Rohit’s behavior had become increasingly alarming. She said she discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her vehicle in January.
Thakur also accused Rohit of deflating her tires and then following her to work so he could offer assistance. In another alleged incident, Rohit obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered her home while she was sleeping.
Thakur told the court that Rohit later claimed he entered the apartment to conduct a welfare check after she failed to respond to his messages.
The alleged harassment prompted Thakur to seek a civil harassment restraining order. Court records indicate she requested that Rohit stay away from her, her home, her workplace and her vehicle.
Authorities said Rohit was served with the temporary order in May. Investigators later received a report that he violated the order in July by leaving random grocery items at Thakur’s front door.
Thakur’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, said her husband died two years ago and that Shalini was her only child.
“I am alone in this world,” Kumari told KCRA 3.
Family members remembered Thakur as “a caring, loving, selfless, and generous young woman who gave so much of herself to others.” They said she was always willing to support people in need and that her kindness left a lasting impact on those who knew her.
A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help Thakur’s family with funeral and memorial expenses. The fundraiser can be accessed at CLICK HERE FOR THE SHALINI THAKUR GOFUNDME.
Via GoFundMe:
Shalini Thakur’s family is facing the heartbreaking and sudden loss of someone deeply loved. Shalini’s life was taken on Tuesday, and her family, friends, coworkers, and community are now grieving an unimaginable loss.
Shalini was a caring, loving, selfless, and generous young woman who gave so much of herself to others. She was always willing to support people in need, and her kindness left a lasting impact on so many lives. Her presence mattered deeply to the people who knew and loved her.
This fundraiser has been created to support Shalini’s family during this devastating time. Donations will help with funeral and memorial expenses, time away from work, and other immediate needs her family may face as they navigate the days ahead.
Any donation, no matter the amount, would mean so much. If donating is not possible, sharing this fundraiser is another meaningful way to support Shalini’s family and help surround them with care during their time of grief.
The case has also drawn attention to Rohit’s immigration history. The Department of Homeland Security said Rohit, an Indian national, entered the United States through Arizona in 2023 and was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol before being released into the country.
DHS officials have criticized the prior administration’s immigration policies in connection with the case. Those claims have been publicly attributed to federal officials and remain part of the broader discussion surrounding the investigation.
The sheriff’s office has described the shooting as an isolated incident. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any additional suspects.
Anyone with information about the shooting or Rohit’s movements is asked to contact Sacramento County homicide detectives at 916-874-5115.
Sacramento is the county seat of Sacramento County and the capital of California. The shooting occurred in the Arden-Arcade area northeast of downtown Sacramento, near the Howe Avenue shopping corridor.
DEVELOPING::