What we know about the Sacramento Panera shooting that killed Shalini Thakur
Sacramento sheriff identifies man who killed himself after freeway standoff, saying he stalked a woman for months before killing her outside a Panera Bread.
A woman is dead after a man who had stalked her for roughly a year executed her outside a Panera Bread restaurant in Sacramento.
After killing 38-year-old Shalini Thakur, 22-year-old Rohit Rohit killed himself during a standoff with deputies on Highway 50.
KCRA 3 is working to learn more about the investigation, including the restraining order filed against Rohit, his detailed history of harassing and stalking her, and past attempts to locate him.
Below is what we know so far.
Rohit Rohit stalked Shalini Thakur since 2025
A copy of the restraining order obtained by KCRA 3 shows that the stalking began around September 2025 and had “progressively escalated in frequency and severity.” Thakur 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.”
Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office
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, which she discovered in January.
Rohit would also try to force her into marriage and prevent her from socializing with other people, according to the restraining order.
There was also an instance when Rohit made a copy of Thakur’s apartment key to let himself inside while she was sleeping.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office expressed concern
The day after the Panera shooting, a news release from the sheriff’s office indicated that deputies urged Thakur to file a restraining order, which she did after months of Rohit’s harassment. Officials served Rohit the notice on May 19.
On July 29, Rohit either ordered or delivered grocery store items to Thakur’s front door.
Lt. Amar Gandhi, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said deputies responded upon receiving that report. Gandhi said detectives made at least two attempts to contact Rohit but were unable to locate him.
When asked whether deputies would have arrested Rohit if they found him, Gandhi said that would likely have been the case because there was probable cause to take him into custody.
Rohit had no criminal history prior to the restraining order, which was placed under civil harassment because there was no information showing Thakur and Rohit were involved romantically.
What could have happened if Rohit had been arrested?
Gandhi said Rohit could have been cited or booked into jail if investigators had located him. An arrest alone would not have established guilt or guaranteed that he remained in custody.
Under California Penal Code section 273.6, an intentional and knowing violation of a qualifying restraining order is generally a misdemeanor. A conviction can carry a fine of up to $1,000, up to one year in county jail or both.
Prosecutors would have needed to prove that the order was valid, Rohit knew about it, he was capable of complying with it and he intentionally violated it. Following an arrest, prosecutors would have decided whether to file charges, while a judge could have determined whether Rohit remained in custody and what release conditions applied.
It is not possible to determine whether an arrest following the July report would have prevented Thakur’s killing.
When asked whether the Sheriff’s Office could have done more, Gandhi said no.
Gandhi said Rohit alone was responsible for Thakur’s killing, while acknowledging the limitations of what he called an “imperfect justice system.”
The day of the Sacramento Panera shooting
The sheriff’s office said that at approximately 3 p.m. on Sept. 8, Thakur was getting dropped off at work in the shopping plaza along Howe Avenue and Northrop Avenue when Rohit approached her and confronted her. 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 then fled.
The sheriff’s office said witnesses shared an image of the vehicle’s license plate, which helped law enforcement quickly locate the shooting suspect.
After entering the vehicle into the Flock system of license plate readers, deputies learned of its last location within seven minutes, Sacramento County Sheriff Jim Cooper said.
Deputies with SacRT located the vehicle near Highway 50 and Watt Avenue minutes later, Gandhi said.
As they attempted to stop the vehicle, Rohit stopped his car on the freeway and refused to get out of the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s office. The man then died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
LiveCopter 3 footage captured the standoff
LiveCopter 3’s aerial footage after 3:20 p.m. showed law enforcement personnel surrounding the vehicle with their guns drawn. Surveillance drones could be seen hovering close to the car to assist law enforcement.
Later, law enforcement personnel could be seen banging out the vehicle’s windows and then removing the man from the vehicle. He was unresponsive.
LIVE | Highway 50 is closed for police activity in SacramentoWatch on
See a minute-by-minute recap of the standoff here.
Rohit entered the country illegally in 2023
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed Rohit was from India and entered the U.S. through Arizona in 2023.
He was arrested by the U.S. Border Patrol and released by the Biden administration, according to the spokesperson. The exact details around his immigration status were not immediately clear as of Friday.
Federal court records online showed his case was pending. The records showed no appeal had been received for his case and there were no hearings scheduled.
A spokesman for the sheriff’s office told KCRA 3 that the local agency does not have access to immigration status information. The sheriff’s office did not immediately provide a response to the DHS announcement.
California’s sanctuary state law, commonly referred to as SB 54, limits local law enforcement’s ability to cooperate with immigration officials when an undocumented immigrant is accused of a crime.
“Trying to turn a horrific act of stalking and domestic violence into an indictment of California’s sanctuary policies is not supported by the evidence and distracts from the real issues this case raises — law enforcement preventing stalking and domestic violence, enforcing restraining orders, and keeping victims safe,” said Diana Crofts-Pelayo, a spokesperson for Gov. Newsom’s office.
Shalini Thakur’s mother recalls final conversation with her
“I am alone in this world,” Kumari told KCRA 3.
Kumari said her husband died two years ago and Thakur was her only child.
The two spoke by phone at 1:58 p.m., nearly an hour before the shooting. Kumari said her daughter told her she would call back within 15 minutes.
That call never came.
“Then she will never come,” Kumari said through tears. “I call her every time, every minute, every hour. I don’t know.”
Kumari showed KCRA 3 her phone, including a series of unanswered calls and WhatsApp messages she sent as her concern grew. The messages included “Please call me” and “I am worried about you.”
“No answer. No answer,” Kumari said.
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