Shalini Thakur, 38, was shot and killed outside a Panera Bread in Sacramento on September 8. The man accused of killing her, 22-year-old Rohit Rohit, had stalked her for roughly a year after they met through DoorDash pickups at her workplace. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a standoff with deputies on Highway 50.
Court records show Thakur did what victims are told to do. She documented escalating harassment, including deflated tires, an AirTag hidden under her car, a copied apartment key, and threats against her life. She obtained a civil harassment restraining order, which was served on Rohit on May 19. A violation was reported on July 29, and deputies made at least two attempts to locate him but could not find him. After the shooting, license plate reader technology helped deputies find him within seven minutes.
Thakur’s mother, Kumari, lives in India and was expecting a call back within 15 minutes. It never came.“I am alone in this world,”she said. The case has renewed local debate about how stalking reports and restraining orders are enforced, and whether an arrest after the July violation could have prevented the killing.
What do you think needs to change so restraining orders carry real weight in Sacramento County?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
