20-year-old Indian student shot dead near University of Toronto campus
NEW DELHI, DEC 26 : A 20-year-old Indian doctoral student has been shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, with authorities investigating the case as a homicide.
The shooting occurred on Tuesday, and Toronto police on Wednesday identified the victim as Shivank Avasthi, according to local media reports.
Police said they were called to the area of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road at around 3:30 pm after receiving reports of an injured person lying on the ground.
When officers arrived, they found a person with a gunshot wound, who was pronounced dead at the scene, Inspector Jeff Allington told reporters.
“Our immediate focus is on preserving evidence at the scene, determining what happened and notifying this individual’s next of kin. Because of that, there is very little information that I am able to share with you tonight,” Allington said.
Toronto police said the suspect fled the area prior to police arrival. No suspect description has been released. They added that the investigation remains ongoing and the killing is being treated as a homicide.
According to Toronto Sun, this was Toronto’s 41st homicide this year.
Earlier, Toronto Police said a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman was found murdered in the city and that a Canada-wide arrest warrant has been issued for a suspect who was known to the victim.
The deceased was identified as Himanshi Khurana, a resident of Toronto. Police said they are searching for Abdul Ghafoori (32), also of Toronto, in connection with the case. According to CBC News, investigators said the incident appears to involve “intimate partner violence.”
Meanwhile, India’s Consulate in Toronto expressed “deep anguish” over the Shivank’s “tragic death.”
“We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time, and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities,” the Consulate posted on X.
A UTSC spokesperson said the university was “extremely saddened” to learn about the death near their campus, but did not confirm if he was a student, CP24 Television network reported.
“We cannot comment on the identity of the victim at this time,” the spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday evening. “We are grateful to our Campus Safety team, Toronto Police Service and emergency medical service personnel for their immediate response and action.”
Meanwhile, the UTSC issued a safety alert advising anyone in a building to stay inside and anyone outdoors to leave the area.
In a social media post, the school said the police investigation is in the Highland Creek Valley at UTSC. It said pathways into the valley remain closed, and people are advised to avoid the valley until police reopen it.
-AFP
