The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Friday that 22-year-old Rohit Rohit, the man accused of stalking and executing 38-year-old Shalini Thakur in a Sacramento Panera Bread parking lot, was in the country illegally. According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, the suspect entered the United States through Arizona in 2023, where he was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol and subsequently released by the Biden administration.
The fatal shooting occurred this week outside the Panera Bread near Howe and Northrop avenues, where investigators said Rohit was waiting for Thakur. When Thakur attempted to run, Rohit confronted and chased her before shooting her multiple times. Witnesses provided vehicle details to authorities, allowing deputies from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office to locate him within minutes on eastbound Highway 50 near Watt Avenue using the FLOCK camera system. Rohit killed himself during a ensuing police standoff on the highway that left traffic at a standstill for hours.
Stalking History and Domestic Harassment Details
Investigators from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department stated that Rohit had no known local criminal history but had been harassing and stalking Thakur since at least January. The harassment began when Thakur discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her car. According to the sheriff’s office, the stalking escalated over the following months as Rohit deflated her vehicle’s tires and followed her to work to offer assistance.
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Investigators documented several escalating incidents of harassment before the fatal shooting, including an instance where Rohit obtained a copy of the victim’s apartment key and entered her home while she was sleeping.
When Thakur discovered Rohit inside her apartment the morning after that incident, the sheriff’s office reported that he claimed he entered out of concern for her safety when she did not answer her phone. Despite these alarming occurrences, law enforcement stated that Thakur initially declined to pursue criminal charges or obtain a restraining order. Detectives maintained contact with her for months, and in May, deputies spoke with her again and urged her to secure a restraining order, which she ultimately did. On July 29, deputies received a report that Rohit dropped off random grocery store items at her front door, constituting a violation of the restraining order. The sheriff’s office noted that deputies attempted to contact Rohit twice following that report.
Federal and State Political Repercussions
The revelation of the suspect’s immigration status drew sharp criticism from federal officials. “This illegal alien from India harassed, stalked, and then killed a 38-year-old woman in California, and then took his own life when police caught up to him,” a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said in a statement Friday. The spokesperson asserted that the tragedy could have been avoided if the administration had not released the suspect into the country, while also calling on sanctuary politicians to end reckless policies.
A spokesperson for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office previously told KCRA 3 that the local agency does not possess access to immigration status information, and the office did not immediately respond to the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement. California’s sanctuary state law, known as SB 54, restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities when an undocumented immigrant is accused of a crime. Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, rejected efforts to tie the murder to state policy. “Trying to turn a horrific act of stalking and domestic violence into an indictment of California’s sanctuary policies is not supported by the evidence and distracts from the real issues this case raises — law enforcement preventing stalking and domestic violence, enforcing restraining orders, and keeping victims safe,” Crofts-Pelayo said.
Family Grief and Potential Future Scrutiny
In the wake of the killing, Thakur’s family voiced deep frustration with the response of local authorities. During an emotional interview with KCRA 3 on Thursday night, Thakur’s mother stated that officials failed to protect her daughter, declaring, “Police did not protect my daughter.” Federal court records checked online Friday showed that Rohit’s immigration case was pending, with no appeals received and no hearings currently scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the victim in the Sacramento shooting?
The victim was 38-year-old Shalini Thakur.
What was the immigration status of the suspect?
According to the Department of Homeland Security, 22-year-old Rohit Rohit was from India, entered the United States through Arizona in 2023, and was in the country illegally after being released by the Biden administration following a Border Patrol arrest.
How did law enforcement locate the suspect after the incident?
Deputies located Rohit within minutes on eastbound Highway 50 near Watt Avenue using vehicle information provided by witnesses and assistance from the FLOCK camera system.
What measures do you think local law enforcement should take when handling repeated violations of domestic restraining orders?