Court records and investigators describe escalating harassment, a restraining order and another reported violation before Shalini Thakur was killed.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Months before Shalini Thakur was fatally shot outside a Panera Bread, authorities say she had discovered a tracking device hidden on her car, reported that a man had entered her apartment and eventually obtained a restraining order intended to keep him away. On Sept. 8, investigators say, that same man was waiting when the 38-year-old Sacramento woman returned to her parked car.

The killing ended a stalking case that the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office says had been developing for months and that Thakur described in court papers as beginning even earlier. Authorities identified the man as 22-year-old Rohit Rohit. Investigators said he confronted Thakur in a shopping center near Howe Avenue shortly before 3 p.m., chased her when she tried to get away and shot her. Rohit fled before deputies located his vehicle on Highway 50. He was later found dead inside from what authorities described as an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Thakur knew Rohit through her work at an IHOP restaurant in the Arden area, according to local reporting and her request for a civil harassment restraining order. Rohit worked as a DoorDash delivery driver and picked up food from the restaurant. In her court filing, Thakur said the unwanted attention began in September 2025 and became more frequent and serious over time. Investigators later described what began as unwanted contact as a pattern that included tracking her movements, interfering with her vehicle and appearing at places where she was expected to be.

One of the clearest warning signs came in January, when Thakur found an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. Investigators said Rohit also let air out of one of her tires and then followed her to work so he could appear to offer assistance. In her court declaration, Thakur said Rohit later acknowledged tampering with the vehicle. The incidents provided investigators with a record of behavior that they said had become increasingly alarming even before she sought court protection.

The reported conduct also extended to Thakur’s home. Sheriff’s officials said Rohit obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered while she was sleeping. Authorities said he later claimed that he had gone inside because she was not answering and he was concerned something had happened to her. Thakur’s court filing also described pressure involving marriage and efforts to stop her from socializing with other people. She said Rohit had threatened to shoot himself or other people if she refused to marry him, according to local news organizations that reviewed the filing.

Sheriff’s officials said Thakur initially did not want to pursue criminal charges or seek a restraining order after some of the earlier incidents. Deputies and detectives nevertheless remained concerned about her safety and continued communicating with her, according to the department. Sgt. Amar Gandhi told CBS Sacramento that investigators stayed in contact for several months and repeatedly urged her to obtain a court order. That history has become an important part of the investigation because authorities already knew about the alleged stalking before the fatal encounter.

Thakur eventually filed for a civil harassment restraining order in May. A proof-of-service filing reported by Law&Crime shows Rohit was personally served with temporary restraining-order documents on May 19. CBS Sacramento reported that the resulting order was expected to remain in effect until May 2027. The order created a formal legal boundary between the two, but investigators say the unwanted contact did not end. Thakur continued to report conduct she believed violated the restrictions imposed by the court.

On July 29, deputies took another report from Thakur after she said Rohit had left groceries outside her front door in violation of the order. Gandhi said detectives tried to find and contact Rohit but were unsuccessful. He told CBS Sacramento that the reported offenses being investigated at that stage were misdemeanors. The sheriff’s office has said deputies and detectives had remained in touch with Thakur because of their concerns, while her family has questioned why those contacts and the court order did not result in greater protection.

The case turned fatal on Sept. 8. According to the sheriff’s office, Rohit drove into the shopping center on Howe Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. Thakur was dropped off a short time later near her own vehicle, which had already been parked there. Investigators said Rohit walked toward her and began confronting her. When she tried to run, authorities say he followed and fired multiple shots. He approached her after she fell and shot her again at close range. Deputies arriving after several witnesses reported the shooting found Thakur at the scene, where she was pronounced dead.

Witnesses then helped investigators quickly turn their attention to the fleeing vehicle. The sheriff’s office said deputies received a description and entered the information into the Flock license-plate camera system. The system returned the vehicle’s recent location, and Regional Transit deputies found it near Highway 50 and Howe Avenue within minutes. When officers tried to stop the vehicle, the driver abruptly stopped. Deputies attempted for some time to get him to come out before discovering Rohit dead inside. Authorities said the injury appeared to have been self-inflicted.

The killing left Thakur’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, asking why the measures already taken had not kept her daughter safe. Kumari had traveled from India to spend time with her only daughter. She later visited the shopping center, where flowers and candles had been placed in Thakur’s memory. Kumari told local television stations that her daughter had repeatedly contacted police and said she believed more should have been done. Family members described Thakur in an online fundraiser as a caring, loving and selfless woman who gave generously to others.

The sheriff’s office has defended its handling of the earlier reports while acknowledging that investigators knew the situation was troubling. Officials said deputies stayed in contact with Thakur, urged her more than once to obtain a restraining order and later attempted to locate Rohit following the reported July violation. Sheriff Jim Cooper said publicly that the killing was difficult to comprehend. The case has since focused renewed attention on the gap that can exist between obtaining a court order and stopping a person who chooses to violate it.

DoorDash said in a statement reported by The Sacramento Bee that it was cooperating with the sheriff’s investigation and has zero tolerance for violence or harassment. Investigators have not publicly established that Rohit was making a delivery when he confronted Thakur. His work as a delivery driver was relevant because authorities and court records indicate that the two first came into contact through food pickups at the restaurant where Thakur worked.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office says detectives are still investigating the immediate events that preceded the shooting, including what happened shortly before Rohit confronted Thakur in the parking lot. Because Rohit died after fleeing the scene, there will be no criminal prosecution in connection with Thakur’s death. The remaining investigation is focused on reconstructing the circumstances of the killing and the months of reported stalking that came before it.

Author note: Last updated October 21, 2026.