Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot and killed Tuesday morning in the parking lot of a Panera Bread in Sacramento. The suspect, 22-year-old Rohit Rohit, had stalked and harassed her since at least January, according to investigators. Thakur secured a restraining order in May and reported a violation of that order in July. After the shooting, Rohit led police onto Highway 50, where he killed himself during a standoff.
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Rohit entered the United States through Arizona in 2023, was arrested by Border Patrol, and was released under the Biden administration. The disclosure has turned a local tragedy into a national flashpoint, with DHS pointing to the prior administration’s policies and Thakur’s mother insisting that the system failed to protect her daughter at every turn.
For Sacramento, the case raises hard questions that go beyond politics: what actually happens when someone reports stalking, how quickly are restraining order violations enforced, and where do victims turn when the paper trail isn’t enough. Thakur did what she was told to do. Now her family is asking why it wasn’t enough. What questions do you want answered about how protective orders are enforced here in Sacramento?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
