Who Was Shalini Thakur? How Months of Stalking Ended in Her Killing in California’s Sacramento

Shalini Thakur, a 38-year-old Indian-origin woman living in Sacramento, was fatally shot outside a Panera Bread restaurant on Tuesday, September 8, after months of alleged stalking and harassment. Authorities identified the suspected shooter as 22-year-old Rohit, who later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound during a police standoff on Highway 50.

Thakur had previously obtained a restraining order against Rohit after reporting increasingly severe behaviour, including alleged surveillance, vehicle tampering and unwanted contact. Her death has raised questions about the limits of restraining orders and whether more could have been done to protect her. US: Indian-Origin Tech Executive Killed in Georgia; Son Injured in Domestic Shooting.

Who Was Shalini Thakur?

Thakur was identified by the Sacramento County Coroner's Office as the woman killed at an Arden-Arcade shopping center on Howe Avenue. Her family described her as caring, hardworking and selfless. Her mother, Sudesh Kumari, had travelled from India to Sacramento to spend several months with her daughter and is now making arrangements following her death.

Thakur worked at an IHOP in the Arden area and had known Rohit through his DoorDash pickups from her workplace, according to investigators and court documents. The two worked for different companies. Indian Tourist Romanch Mahajan Dies After Startled Horse Bolts, Overturns Carriage in New York (Watch Video).

What Happened Outside The Restaurant?

Deputies were called shortly before 3 pm Tuesday after multiple reports of a shooting near the Panera Bread on the 800 block of Howe Avenue. Investigators said Rohit was already at the shopping centre when Thakur arrived and was dropped off near her parked vehicle.

He approached and confronted her, authorities said. When she tried to run away, he chased her and shot her multiple times. After Thakur fell, investigators said Rohit approached her and fired another shot at close range. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses provided deputies with information about the suspect's vehicle. Investigators then used the Flock licence-plate camera system to locate it near Highway 50.

Deputies found Rohit inside the vehicle after it stopped on the freeway. He had an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead. Authorities said deputies did not appear to have fired their weapons.

Months Of Stalking And Harassment

Court documents obtained by local media show that Thakur had described the alleged stalking as beginning around September 2025 and becoming increasingly frequent and severe. In her filing for a civil harassment restraining order, Thakur wrote, "The stalking behavior began September 2025 and has progressively escalated in frequency and severity."

She reported several incidents involving Rohit. According to the court documents, he allegedly waited outside her home for hours, tampered with her vehicle by letting air out of its tyres and placed an Apple AirTag under her car to track her movements.

Investigators also said he obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered the home while she was sleeping. Thakur alleged that he attempted to pressure her into marriage and control whom she socialised with. The filing also said Rohit had allegedly threatened to shoot himself or others if Thakur would not marry him.

Restraining Order Was In Place

Sheriff's officials said deputies had remained in contact with Thakur and encouraged her to seek a restraining order. She eventually obtained one in late May. The order was set to remain in effect until May 2027. In July, Thakur reported a possible violation after Rohit allegedly left grocery items outside her home.

"These offenses are considered misdemeanors. So they are investigated. They are reported. Detectives did actually go out and try to contact him. We weren't able to locate him a couple of times they went," Sgt. Amar Gandhi of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said. The case has since prompted renewed discussion about the protections available to victims of stalking and the limitations of civil restraining orders when an alleged offender continues to make contact.

Final Conversation With Her Mother

Thakur's mother said she spoke with her daughter by phone at 1:58 pm on the day of the shooting, less than an hour before the attack. Thakur told her mother she would call back within 15 minutes, but never did. Kumari later showed unanswered calls and WhatsApp messages, including “Please call me” and “I am worried about you.”

"She was so scared of him," a distraught Sudesh told KCRA 3. Kumari has questioned whether more could have been done to protect her daughter. In an interview after the shooting, she said, "My daughter's life not protected by police. Many times... many times she called police."

What Is Known About Rohit?

Rohit, 22, was identified by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office as the suspected shooter. Authorities said he and Thakur had known each other for several years through work, although they worked for different employers. Investigators said he eventually developed a fixation on her.

The latest information from the US Department of Homeland Security says Rohit was an Indian national who entered the United States through Arizona in 2023 and was in the country illegally.

After the shooting, witnesses helped investigators identify his vehicle. Deputies located him on eastbound Highway 50 near Watt Avenue, where the incident led to a prolonged law-enforcement response and closure of the highway. He was subsequently found dead inside the vehicle from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting, the reported stalking and harassment, and Rohit's actions after the attack. Authorities are also reviewing the earlier contacts between Thakur, Rohit and law enforcement as part of the investigation.

For Thakur's family, the focus has shifted from attempts to protect her to mourning her death. Her mother has said she believes her daughter could have been saved and has questioned whether authorities had sufficient tools to intervene before the violence escalated.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 12, 2026 04:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).