California Woman Shot Dead in Street by Man Who Allegedly Stalked Her for Months, Police Say

Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot dead outside a Panera Bread restaurant in Sacramento, California, on 8 September after 22-year-old Rohit Rohit allegedly stalked and harassed her for months, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.

What Happened in the Sacramento Shooting

The sheriff's office said Rohit arrived at the restaurant shortly before Thakur and accosted her. As she ran away, he allegedly shot her several times before walking over to her body and shooting her in the head. Thakur was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies later used the Flock system to locate Rohit's car and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver slammed on the brakes, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies called out to Rohit several times before discovering him dead inside the vehicle from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office also released footage of the shooting. The blurry video shows a woman running from a male figure before falling to the ground. The male figure then appears to stand over her with a gun pointed towards her head. Sheriff Jim Cooper identified the figures as Thakur and Rohit.

Shalini Thakur Had Reported Alleged Stalking

The sheriff's office said an investigation found that Rohit had allegedly been stalking and harassing Thakur since January. That month, Thakur discovered an Apple AirTag under the hood of her vehicle.

In another incident, authorities said Rohit deflated the air from Thakur's vehicle before following her to work and offering to help. Court documents obtained by KCRA stated that the pair had met at work, where Rohit picked up DoorDash orders from the business where Thakur worked.

Thakur's mother, Sudesh Kumari, told ABC 7 News that her daughter had repeatedly contacted authorities about Rohit before the shooting.

'She could have been saved,' Kumari said. 'She told police so many times. She called them, but nobody did anything.'

The sheriff's office said Thakur initially declined to pursue charges or obtain a restraining order. Authorities also said Rohit obtained a key to her apartment and entered while she was sleeping, later claiming he had been concerned about her.

In May, authorities urged Thakur to seek a restraining order, and she eventually agreed. On 29 July, the sheriff's office received a report alleging a violation after Thakur said Rohit had dropped random grocery items at her door.

Rohit Rohit's DoorDash Connection

The report also detailed Rohit's immigration status and connection to DoorDash. The Department of Homeland Security told The Independent that he entered the US illegally from India in 2023 and was arrested by Border Patrol before being released.

Immigration attorney Raissa Morris told ABC 7 News that releasing someone in such circumstances was a normal process, particularly for someone arriving from India, and that they would usually be allowed to go to court.

A DoorDash spokesperson told The Independent that Rohit had signed up using a Social Security number and completed necessary background checks, but had not worked for the company in more than six weeks.

'This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with Ms. Thakur's family and loved ones as they grieve this immense loss,' the spokesperson said. 'DoorDash has absolutely zero tolerance for violence or harassment of any kind.'

The spokesperson added that DoorDash was fully cooperating with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.

A funeral for Thakur was held on Monday, with her mother and uncle the only immediate family members in attendance because many relatives live in India.