Sacramento: A 38-year-old Indian-origin woman, Shalini Thakur, was fatally shot outside a Panera Bread outlet in Sacramento of California, following nearly a year of reported stalking, harassment and intimidation by a 22-year-old man named Rohit. The suspect died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after the incident during a standoff with deputies on eastbound Highway 50 near Watt Avenue.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Thakur was being dropped off for work at a commercial plaza near Howe Avenue and Northrop Avenue when Rohit approached and confronted her. When she attempted to flee, the assailant chased her, shooting her multiple times before firing a final point-blank shot to her head. Emergency responders pronounced her dead at the scene.

Deputies located Rohit's vehicle within seven minutes of the shooting by using Flock automated license plate recognition cameras combined with details provided by eyewitnesses. 

Court records from a restraining order Thakur previously filed reveal a pattern of escalating harassment that began around September 2025. Thakur, who first encountered Rohit through DoorDash deliveries at her workplace, documented that his behaviour rapidly worsened over time. The filing detailed how Rohit hid an Apple AirTag under the hood of her vehicle to track her location, intentionally deflated her car tires and parked outside her home for hours on end.

The documents also revealed that he secretly duplicated her apartment key to enter her home while she slept, while repeatedly trying to pressure her into marriage and isolate her from others.

Deputies had previously flagged Rohit’s alarming actions and advised Thakur to obtain legal protection. Formal notice of the restraining order was served to Rohit on May 19, though he allegedly breached the court order in late July by dropping off unrequested grocery items at her doorstep.

Following the tragic loss, Thakur’s family organised a GoFundMe campaign to cover expenses, remembering her as a compassionate, selfless and generous individual who consistently helped others.