California woman fatally shot by longtime stalker; suspect later dies in police standoff
Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot multiple times by a stalker she had been harassing for over a year. The suspect, Rohit, died after a brief pursuit by deputies on Highway 50.
Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot several times while being dropped off at work at a shopping plaza on Howe Avenue and Northrop Avenue in Sacramento on Thursday, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. The shooter, 22-year-old Rohit, approached her, fired at her and, after she fell, delivered a close-range headshot before fleeing. Deputies located Rohit within seven minutes using a city-wide camera system and pursued him on eastbound Highway 50 at Watt Avenue, where he died during a standoff.
The sheriff’s office said the attack followed a year-long pattern of stalking, harassment and threats documented in a restraining order filed by Thakur. The filing described incidents beginning in September 2025, including Rohit waiting outside her home for hours, deflating her tires, hiding an Apple AirTag under her car’s hood, copying her apartment key, and delivering groceries to her doorstep after the order was served on May 19.
Sheriff Jim Cooper’s office noted that multiple witnesses helped locate the suspect. Lt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said investigators had probable cause to arrest Rohit and had made two in-person attempts to find him, which were unsuccessful. He added that while the case did not rise to domestic-violence charges, it was treated as civil harassment, and a misdemeanor violation of the restraining order could still be pursued.
Federal court records show Rohit entered the United States in 2023 and was released after a brief detention by border authorities. His immigration status remains unclear. The investigation continues as detectives handle related cases.