Witness information and license plate readers helped deputies locate the suspected gunman’s vehicle after Shalini Thakur was killed in Arden-Arcade.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A fatal shooting outside an Arden-Arcade shopping center set off a fast-moving search Tuesday that ended on Highway 50, where deputies found the suspected gunman dead inside his vehicle as traffic was halted across a major Sacramento corridor.
The victim, later identified by the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office as 38-year-old Shalini Thakur of Sacramento, died after being shot near a shopping center on Howe Avenue. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspected shooter as 22-year-old Rohit Rohit. Authorities said he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after his vehicle stopped on the freeway.
The shooting and ensuing freeway response unfolded within a relatively small section of Sacramento County. Deputies were sent to the shopping center just before 3 p.m. after several witnesses reported gunfire. Investigators said Rohit had reached the shopping center shortly before Thakur was dropped off near a vehicle she had left there.
According to detectives, Rohit approached Thakur and confronted her. She tried to run, but investigators said he chased her and fired multiple times. Authorities said he then approached her after she fell and fired again. Medics responded, but Thakur was pronounced dead at the scene.
Witnesses gave law enforcement officers a description of the vehicle that left the area after the shooting. Investigators said they entered information into the Flock license plate reader system and located the vehicle near Highway 50 and Howe Avenue. Regional Transit deputies attempted to stop it, and the vehicle eventually stopped on the freeway.
Law enforcement officers then tried to get the driver to come out of the vehicle. When deputies later approached, authorities said they found Rohit dead inside. The response forced the closure of Highway 50 between Howe and Watt avenues for several hours, disrupting traffic through the Sacramento area before the freeway reopened Tuesday evening.
As detectives reconstructed the shooting, investigators disclosed that the case involved a much longer history between Thakur and Rohit. Sheriff’s officials said Rohit had allegedly stalked and harassed Thakur for months. Thakur discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her vehicle in January, according to investigators, and authorities described other incidents involving her car, workplace and home.
Authorities said Rohit allegedly let air out of one of Thakur’s tires and followed her to work so he could offer assistance. Investigators also said he acquired a copy of her apartment key and entered her residence while she was asleep. Court records showed that Thakur later sought protection, describing harassment she said had begun in September 2025 and escalated over time.
Thakur obtained a civil harassment restraining order in late May after sheriff’s officials said deputies repeatedly encouraged her to seek one. The order was expected to remain in effect until May 2027. Authorities said Thakur reported a possible violation in July after Rohit allegedly left groceries outside her home. Sheriff’s officials said detectives tried to locate him in connection with earlier reports but were unsuccessful on multiple occasions.
The history has prompted questions from Thakur’s family about whether further intervention could have prevented the killing. Her mother, Sudesh Kumari, had traveled from India to Sacramento and later visited a memorial that formed near the shopping center. She said her daughter had contacted police repeatedly and expressed frustration that the earlier reports had not kept her safe.
The sheriff’s office has said deputies stayed in contact with Thakur and urged her to obtain the restraining order. Investigators have not publicly announced a conclusion about whether any additional law enforcement action was legally available before the killing. Rohit’s death also means there will be no criminal prosecution in connection with Thakur’s death unless investigators identify another person as involved.
Detectives continue to investigate what happened immediately before the confrontation at the shopping center. Authorities have not announced another suspect or released a final account of the events leading directly to the shooting.
Author note: Last updated September 11, 2026.