Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot dead outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento on September 8 in an attack authorities say followed months of increasingly disturbing harassment by a 22-year-old man she had previously encountered through his DoorDash work.
The shooting happened shortly before 3 p.m. on Howe Avenue, where Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Amar Gandhi said the suspect, Rohit Rohit, approached Thakur outside her workplace and began confronting her.
According to investigators, Thakur tried to escape, but Rohit chased after her before pulling out a firearm and shooting her several times.
Suspect Allegedly Returned to Shoot Thakur at Close Range
Gandhi said Thakur fell to the ground after the initial gunfire.
Rohit then allegedly approached her again and shot her in the head at close range.
Sheriff’s deputies responding to the scene tracked the vehicle Rohit used to flee the area.
Officers eventually located the vehicle and said the driver immediately slammed on the brakes.
Deputies attempted to communicate with him before discovering that Rohit had died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The homicide investigation remains ongoing.
Investigation Reveals Months of Stalking
Detectives later uncovered a disturbing pattern of alleged harassment that had begun months before the killing.
Authorities said Rohit met Thakur through DoorDash pickups connected to her workplace and subsequently became increasingly persistent.
In January, Thakur reportedly discovered an Apple AirTag hidden beneath the hood of her car.
Investigators also learned that Rohit had allegedly deflated her tires and followed her to work, apparently using the situation to approach her and offer assistance.
The behavior escalated further when Rohit allegedly obtained a copy of Thakur’s apartment key and entered her Sierra Boulevard home while she was sleeping.
He reportedly told her afterward that he had entered the apartment because he was checking on her after she failed to respond to his messages.
Restraining Order Failed to Stop the Harassment
The repeated incidents eventually led Thakur to seek legal protection.
She obtained a restraining order against Rohit, but authorities said he violated it in July by leaving unsolicited grocery items outside her home.
The circumstances have raised questions about whether earlier interventions could have prevented the violence, particularly as Thakur’s family says she had repeatedly sought protection.
Her mother, Kumari Thakur, said her daughter had filed restraining orders but felt that police had failed to keep her safe.
Mother Spoke to Her Daughter Shortly Before Her Death
Thakur’s final conversation with her mother took place less than an hour before the shooting.
Kumari said they had planned to speak again roughly 15 minutes later.
When her daughter did not answer, she began sending messages through WhatsApp asking her to call back.
“I am worried about you,” she wrote.
When the calls continued to go unanswered, Kumari was left unaware that her daughter had already been killed.
“My husband died two years ago and she was my only child,” she told KCRA 3.
“I am alone in this world.”
The grieving mother added: “Then she will never come. I call her every time, every minute, every hour. I don’t know.”
Family Remembers Thakur for Her Kindness
Friends and relatives have described Thakur as caring, loving, selfless and generous.
A fundraising campaign established to help with funeral expenses said she regularly supported people in need and had made a lasting impression on those around her.
“Her presence mattered deeply to the people who knew and loved her,” relatives said.
Her death has left her mother facing the loss of her only child.
DHS Points to Rohit’s Immigration History
The Department of Homeland Security has also highlighted Rohit’s immigration history as part of its response to the case.
According to DHS, Rohit entered the United States illegally through Arizona in 2023 and was arrested by US Border Patrol agents in August of that year.
The agency said he was subsequently released into the country by the Biden administration.
A DHS spokesman used the case to criticize the previous administration’s immigration policies, arguing that Rohit’s release contributed to the circumstances surrounding Thakur’s death.
The claims about his immigration history and release are attributed to DHS.
Rohit Had Been Cleared to Work for DoorDash
Rohit was also able to obtain work with DoorDash after reportedly passing background screening conducted through Checkr.
Sources told the Daily Mail that he provided a Social Security number as part of the process.
However, DoorDash said Rohit had not completed a delivery in more than six weeks and was not active on its platform on the day Thakur was killed.
The company said it was cooperating with investigators.
DoorDash Offers Condolences
A DoorDash spokesperson expressed sympathy for Thakur’s family and said the company had no tolerance for violence or harassment.
“This is an unimaginable tragedy, and our hearts are with Ms. Thakur’s family and loved ones as they grieve this immense loss,” the company said.
DoorDash encouraged anyone experiencing unwanted attention to report it through the platform and contact law enforcement if they felt unsafe.
The company confirmed that it was fully cooperating with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office investigation.
Detectives Continue to Seek Information
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Thakur’s killing and Rohit’s death.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office investigators have urged anyone with information relevant to the case to contact detectives at 916-874-5115.
