Sacramento coroner identifies woman executed at Panera by long-time stalker who killed himself after
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
The woman brutally slain outside of a Panera by a long-time stalker has been identified Thursday, according to the Sacramento County coroner.
| VIDEO ABOVE | Court docs reveal woman’s warning about stalker before deadly Sacramento shooting
Shalini Thakur, 38, was getting dropped off at work in the shopping plaza along Howe Avenue and Northrop Avenue when 22-year-old Rohit Rohit approached her and confronted her, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said. Thakur tried to run away, but Rohit shot her multiple times.
After Thakur fell to the ground, the sheriff’s office said Rohit shot Thakur in the head at close range. He fled but then ultimately killed himself during a standoff with Sacramento deputies along eastbound Highway 50 at Watt Avenue.
Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said deputies were able to track down Rohit within seven minutes using Flock’s camera system. Multiple witnesses who were there during the attack also helped search for Rohit, who the sheriff’s office described as a “cold-blooded killer” based on the nature of how Thakur was executed.
Since her killing, KCRA 3 has obtained a restraining order that Thakur filed, which details roughly a year of stalking, harassment, and threats Rohit made.
According to the filing, the alleged stalking began around September 2025 and had “progressively escalated in frequency and severity.”
Thakur said she knew Rohit through DoorDash pickups from her workplace.
His behavior worsened over time, which would ultimately lead to him making the threat to kill both Thakur and himself, the order shows.
On April 23, Rohit allegedly parked outside Thakur’s home for hours to wait to speak with her, a habit she referred to as a “daily occurrence.”
The document lists instances such as Rohit deflating Thakur’s tires—a written declaration from Thakur states he would later admit to her that he did this—and hiding an Apple AirTag under her car’s hood to track her location.
Rohit would also try to force her into marriage and prevent her from socializing with other people, according to the restraining order.
A Wednesday news release from the sheriff’s office stated that deputies were concerned about Rohit’s actions and urged Thakur to file a restraining order, of which she eventually did. Officials served Rohit the notice on May 19.
The sheriff’s office identified Rohit and also spoke of his concerning behavior. The agency cited instances of Rohit making a copy of Thakur’s apartment key to let himself inside while she was sleeping, as well as another time when he violated the restraining order in late July, when he dropped off grocery store items at her front door.
Cooper also reacted to surveillance video released showing parts of the attack.
“This young lady was chased down and gunned down, and then he stands over her and executes her. Unbelievable,” Cooper said.
Help for those in crisis is available at the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Text messages can also be sent to the three-digit number.