DHS says man who stalked, executed woman at Panera Bread was in the U.S. illegally

Key Points:

• The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Rohit Rohit, the man who stalked and killed 38-year-old Shalini Thakur in Sacramento, was in the U.S. illegally, having entered through Arizona in 2023 and subsequently released by U.S. Border Patrol.
• Rohit stalked Thakur for months, including placing an Apple AirTag on her car, deflating her tires, following her to work, and entering her home without permission; despite these incidents, Thakur initially declined to press charges or seek a restraining order.
• After Thakur obtained a restraining order in May, Rohit violated it by leaving items at her door in late July, prompting deputies to attempt contact with him; on the day of the shooting, he waited outside a Panera Bread, confronted Thakur, and fatally shot her before killing himself during a police standoff.
• The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office stated they do not have access to immigration status information, and California's sanctuary law limits local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, but Governor Newsom's office emphasized the case highlights issues of stalking and domestic violence prevention rather than immigration policy.
• Thakur's mother criticized authorities for failing to protect her daughter, expressing that law enforcement did not adequately prevent the stalking or enforce protective measures before the fatal attack.