At 1:58 p.m., Sudesh Kumari was on the phone with her only daughter. Shalini Thakur promised to call back in about 15 minutes. Kumari later showed a reporter the screen she kept checking: calls that went unanswered, WhatsApp messages asking her daughter to respond.
Investigators say Thakur was chased and fatally shot outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento. Court records show she had accused 22-year-old Rohit Rohit of nearly a year of escalating stalking and obtained a temporary restraining order in May. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office says a FLOCK license plate camera system helped deputies locate Rohit’s vehicle, where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
This story is being felt far past one parking lot. For anyone who has ever been told that reporting harassment and filing for a protective order is the path to safety, Kumari’s words land hard:“Police not protect my daughter. Not protect.”A funeral is scheduled for Monday, and family and friends have started a GoFundMe to help cover costs. If you or someone you know is dealing with stalking, the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 can connect you to local advocates. What would real protection have looked like for Shalini Thakur?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
