Full Breakdown
Sacramento Stalking Murder Ends in Fatal Shooting and Suspect Suicide
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Fatal Shooting Outside Panera Bread
On September 8, deputies with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting near a Panera Bread in Sacramento. Witnesses said 22-year-old Rohit Rohit approached 38-year-old Shalini Thakur, chased her after she tried to flee, and shot her multiple times, delivering a fatal headshot at close range. After fleeing, Rohit’s vehicle was located on Highway 50 via an automated license-plate reader. When deputies attempted to stop the car, Rohit slammed on the brakes, remained inside, and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Background & Context: Stalking History and Restraining Order
Investigators determined Rohit had been stalking Thakur for at least a year. The harassment began in January 2025, when Thakur found an Apple AirTag hidden under her car’s hood. Over the following months Rohit deflated her tires, followed her to work, copied her apartment key, entered her home while she slept, and threatened violence.
In May 2025, Thakur obtained a civil-harassment restraining order, served on May 19. Rohit violated the order on July 29 by delivering grocery items to her front door. Deputies made two attempts to locate him after the violation but were unable to do so.
Timeline of Key Incidents
Data & Statistics
- Victim: Shalini Thakur, 38, Sacramento resident.
- Suspect: Rohit Rohit, 22, entered the United States illegally through Arizona in August 2023; arrested by U.S. Border Patrol and later released (DHS).
- Legal framework: Violating a California civil-harassment restraining order is a misdemeanor (Penal Code 273.6), punishable by up to a $1,000 fine, up to one year in county jail, or both.
Official Statements & Responses
- The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office released a statement describing the shooting, the pursuit, and Rohit’s suicide. Sheriff Jim Cooper noted that license-plate data enabled deputies to locate the vehicle within minutes.
- Lt. Amar Gandhi said that if investigators had located Rohit after the July violation, he likely would have been cited or booked, though an arrest would not have guaranteed custody.
- A DoorDash spokesperson expressed condolences, noting that Rohit had completed a background check when he signed up as a delivery driver but was not active on the platform at the time of the shooting.
Criticism & Opposition
- A DHS spokesperson linked the suspect’s immigration status to the fatal outcome, framing sanctuary policies as a public-safety risk.
- Governor Newsom’s office disputed that framing, emphasizing that the core issue is law-enforcement response to stalking and restraining-order enforcement, not immigration policy.
On-the-Ground Reports
Family members recounted Thakur’s final phone call at 1:58 p.m. on the day of the shooting; she told her mother, Sudesh Kumari, she would call back within 15 minutes—a promise that went unfulfilled. Kumari described her daughter’s isolation, noting that Thakur’s husband had died two years earlier.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- While multiple outlets confirm Rohit’s illegal entry and release, the precise details of his immigration case remain unclear; federal court records show a pending case with no scheduled hearings.
- No criminal history for Rohit was identified prior to the restraining order, but investigators have not disclosed whether any prior misdemeanor or immigration violations existed.
What’s Next
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation, and federal immigration proceedings for Rohit remain pending. No further public hearings or policy actions have been announced.