A 38-year-old Sacramento County woman was fatally shot outside a Panera Bread on Tuesday, the culmination of a months-long stalking campaign by a man she knew as her DoorDash delivery driver, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Shalini Thakur was standing near her car when Rohit Rohit approached her, chased her as she tried to run, and shot her in the head before fleeing in a vehicle, DHS said. Responding police officers caught up with him afterward, but Rohit died by suicide before he could be taken into custody, authorities said.
DHS said Rohit is an illegal immigrant from India who had entered the United States through Arizona in August 2023, when he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. He was released under a Biden administration policy that allowed migrants to remain in the country after being given a court date, according to DHS.
A DHS spokesperson placed responsibility for the killing on that policy.
“This tragedy would have been completely avoided if it weren’t for the Biden Administration RELEASING this killer into our country,” the spokesperson said. “Sanctuary politicians must put an end to reckless policies that play Russian roulette with American lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and her family.”
A pattern of stalking dating back months
According to reporting by ABC 10, Thakur first encountered Rohit as a DoorDash driver who began parking outside her home for hours and speaking with her daily. She discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her car as early as January, the report said.
Rohit allegedly tried to coerce Thakur into marriage and worked to isolate her from other people, at times threatening to shoot himself or anyone she met, ABC 10 reported. He is also accused of deflating her car’s tires and following her to work so he could offer to help, and of obtaining a copy of her apartment key in order to enter her home while she slept.
Thakur obtained a restraining order against Rohit in May, but the stalking continued as recently as July, according to the report.
Her mother, Sudesh Kumari, told ABC 10 that repeated calls to police went unanswered.
“She could have been saved. She told police so many times,” Kumari said. “She called them, but nobody did anything.”
DoorDash had not responded to a request for comment from Fox News Digital as of the initial report.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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