Stalker Shoots Dead Indian-Origin Woman Outside California Restaurant

A 38-year-old woman of Indian origin, Shalini Thakur, was reportedly chased and shot dead in broad daylight outside a restaurant in Sacramento, California, on Tuesday by a young man who had stalked and harassed her for nearly a year.

The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Rohit, fled the spot after the attack but later shot himself dead during a stand-off with law enforcement officials on Highway 50.

The shooting occurred around 3 pm outside a Panera Bread outlet in the 800 block of Howe Avenue in the city's Arden-Arcade area. According to eyewitnesses and local officials, Thakur attempted to run away as Rohit pursued her, firing multiple shots in front of onlookers. After Thakur collapsed on the ground, the shooter fired another point-blank shot at her head. Emergency medical personnel pronounced her dead at the scene.

Sacramento Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Lieutenant Amar Gandhi reportedly said law enforcement tracked the suspect’s car shortly after the incident. When deputies attempted a traffic stop on Highway 50, Rohit braked hard and halted his vehicle, prompting the California Highway Patrol to shut down all eastbound lanes.

Footage broadcast by local network KCRA Channel 3 showed tactical and sheriff's vehicles surrounding the car. After breaching the driver-side window and deploying a drone inside, deputies found Rohit slumped in the driver's seat with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities reportedly confirmed he died from the injury, adding that officers did not fire their weapons.

A Year of Terror Despite Restraining Order

The victim's mother, Sudesh Kumari, revealed that Rohit had been relentlessly harassing her daughter because she rejected his marriage proposal due to their age difference.

"She was so scared of him," a distraught Kumari reportedly said. She recalled speaking with her only child at 1.58 pm less than an hour before the murder. Thakur promised to call back in 15 minutes, but the call never came. Kumari, who lost her husband two years ago, was left staring at unanswered WhatsApp messages reading "Please call me" and "I am worried about you."

Court records indicate the stalking began around September 2025. Rohit, who initially came into contact with Thakur during DoorDash pickups at her workplace, quickly escalated his behavior. Court filings disclose that he:

• Placed an Apple AirTag underneath her car to monitor her movements.
• Deflated her vehicle’s tyres on multiple occasions and waited outside her residence for hours.
• Made a duplicate key to her flat and entered while she was asleep.
• Attempted to dictate her social circle and pressure her into marriage.

Thakur secured a legal restraining order against Rohit, which was formally served on May 19. However, the order failed to deter him. In late July, Rohit breached the protection order again by leaving grocery items at her doorstep, culminating in Tuesday's fatal ambush.