Daijiworld Media Network - Sacramento

Sacramento, Sep 13: A 38-year-old Indian-origin woman was shot dead outside a restaurant at a shopping centre in Sacramento, California, allegedly by a 22-year-old Indian national who had reportedly been stalking and harassing her for months.

The incident took place on September 8 when the accused, identified as Rohit, allegedly approached Shalini Thakur near her car. According to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Thakur attempted to flee, but Rohit chased her, pulled out a gun and shot her multiple times.

After she fell to the ground, the accused allegedly shot her in the head at close range before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

Authorities later attempted to stop the vehicle and ordered the driver to come out. However, officers discovered that the man had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Sacramento County Coroner's Office was quoted as saying by Fox40.com.

The DHS said Rohit was an undocumented Indian immigrant who entered the United States through Arizona in 2023. A DHS spokesperson said he was arrested by US Border Patrol after entering the country and was subsequently released by the Biden administration.

The exact details of his immigration status were not immediately clear.

Investigators said Rohit had allegedly been stalking Thakur since at least January. The woman had previously found an Apple AirTag concealed under the hood of her car, while the accused allegedly deflated her vehicle's tyres and followed her to work, where he offered to help her.

According to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Rohit had also obtained a copy of Thakur's apartment key and allegedly entered her home while she was asleep.

The case remains under investigation as authorities work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and the alleged months-long harassment.