Archive · 13 Sep 2026
Stalking Allegations Preceded Fatal Shooting of Sacramento Woman
Shalini Thakur was a 38-year-old woman in Sacramento, California.
Authorities say a 22-year-old man named Rohit Rohit stalked her for months.
They say he hid an AirTag under her car and sometimes damaged her tyres.
He was also accused of following her and entering her apartment with a copied key.
Thakur got a court order in May telling him to stay away.
Authorities say he continued bothering her after the order.
On September 8, he allegedly chased her near a shopping centre and shot her.
Police later found him dead inside his car from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Shalini Thakur, 38, was fatally shot at a Sacramento shopping centre on September 8, 2026.
Authorities identified 22-year-old Indian national Rohit Rohit as the alleged shooter and stalker.
Investigators said an AirTag, deflated tyres, workplace following and a copied apartment key were involved in the alleged harassment.
Thakur obtained a restraining order in May, but authorities said the alleged stalking continued through July.
Rohit fled after the shooting and was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Who
- Shalini Thakur, 38, was killed; authorities identified Rohit Rohit, 22, as the alleged shooter and stalker.
- What
- Thakur was fatally shot after months of alleged stalking and harassment.
- When
- The shooting occurred on September 8, 2026; the alleged stalking reportedly began in January 2026 and continued through July.
- Where
- The shooting occurred at a shopping centre near Howe Avenue in Sacramento, California; earlier alleged incidents involved Thakur’s car, workplace and apartment.
- Why
- Authorities allege Rohit stalked Thakur and chased her before shooting her; the articles do not establish a specific motive.
Federal Immigration Account
State and Local Response
Role of immigration status
Federal Immigration Account
The Department of Homeland Security said Rohit was an undocumented Indian national who entered through Arizona in 2023 and was released into the country under the Biden administration; it used the case to criticize that release.
State and Local Response
California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office rejected efforts to connect the killing to sanctuary policies, saying the central issues were stalking, domestic violence and protection failures. Reports also said Rohit’s immigration status was not fully clear.
Whether authorities could have prevented the killing
Federal Immigration Account
The case highlights allegations that Rohit continued stalking Thakur despite a restraining order and that warnings preceded the shooting.
State and Local Response
Thakur reported harassment, sought a restraining order and received police attention, but the articles do not establish which specific intervention could have prevented the killing or assign legal responsibility for it.
- Victim
- Shalini Thakur, 38
- Accused
- Rohit Rohit, 22
- Location
- Sacramento, California
- Alleged stalking methods
- An Apple AirTag, deflated tyres, workplace following and a copied apartment key
- Restraining order
- Thakur obtained one in May; authorities said an alleged violation occurred in July
- Shooting date
- September 8, 2026
- Accused’s death
- Authorities later found Rohit dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound
- Immigration account
- The Department of Homeland Security said Rohit entered through Arizona in August 2023 and was later released while his case was pending
