Indian student Shivank Avasthi murder: Toronto police arrest 28-year-old, charge him with first-degree murder

Indian student Shivank Avasthi murder: Toronto police arrest 28-year-old, charge him with first-degree murder

• Toronto police arrest man for fatal shooting of Indian student Shivank Avasthi
• Accused Babatunde Afuwape charged with first-degree murder, motive unknown
• India's consulate in Toronto assisting victim's family after tragic death

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Toronto police have arrested and charged a 28-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old Indian student at the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, in what investigators have described as a deliberate but seemingly random act of violence.

Avasthi, a third-year student, was found by officers on December 23 at around 3:30 pm with a gunshot wound on a trail running through the university campus. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police on Wednesday identified the accused as Babatunde Afuwape, who has been charged with first-degree murder. Toronto Police Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe described the killing as a “senseless act” and said the accused had been on parole for previous firearm-related offences. Afuwape was taken into custody on December 28 for violating parole conditions.

“This was a deeply tragic case. Shivank was a third-year University of Toronto student from India. He was young, bright, and had his whole life ahead of him,” McCabe said.

Investigators have not established a motive for the attack and believe the victim and the accused did not know each other. “Based on our investigation, we do not believe the accused and the victim were known to each other,” McCabe said, adding, “It is our belief that this was a planned and deliberate act by the accused, and we have not yet found a motive for why Shivank was targeted.”

Police said the announcement of the arrest was intended to reassure students and staff amid concerns within the university community. “We wanted to reassure them that the person responsible is in our custody,” McCabe said.

Authorities are continuing to appeal for witnesses, saying there may have been others on the trail or elsewhere on campus on the afternoon of December 23 who may have seen or interacted with the suspect. “If you saw this individual or had any interaction with him on December 23, we would like you to contact us,” McCabe said.

The killing prompted a response from India’s consulate in Toronto, which expressed “deep anguish over the tragic death” in a statement issued on December 25. The consulate said it remains in contact with Avasthi’s family and is coordinating closely with local authorities to provide all necessary assistance.