Indian Student Shot Dead Near University of Toronto Campus
TORONTO: A 20-year-old Indian student, Shivank Awasthi, was shot and killed in Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a homicide investigation by local police and raising concerns within the Indian community.
The incident occurred around 3:34 p.m. on December 23 near the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus, in the Old Kingston Road and Highland Creek Trail area. Toronto Police said they responded to reports of an "unknown altercation" and found Awasthi with fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspects reportedly fled before authorities arrived. A passerby is said to have discovered the body and alerted emergency services.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep shock over the killing. "We are in touch with the family of the deceased and are coordinating with local authorities to provide all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the consulate stated.
While the consulate referred to Awasthi as a doctoral student, some peers and media reports identified him as a third-year life sciences undergraduate. The university’s cheerleading team, of which he was a member, paid tribute to him as a valued part of their family.
This is the second killing of an Indian national in Toronto this month, following the death of 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana on December 20. However, police have clarified that the two cases are not connected.
Investigators have registered Awasthi's death as the city's 41st homicide of 2025 and are appealing to the public for any dashcam or CCTV footage from the area at the time of the incident. The motive for the attack remains unknown.
https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7027786
The incident occurred around 3:34 p.m. on December 23 near the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus, in the Old Kingston Road and Highland Creek Trail area. Toronto Police said they responded to reports of an "unknown altercation" and found Awasthi with fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The suspects reportedly fled before authorities arrived. A passerby is said to have discovered the body and alerted emergency services.
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep shock over the killing. "We are in touch with the family of the deceased and are coordinating with local authorities to provide all necessary assistance during this difficult time," the consulate stated.
While the consulate referred to Awasthi as a doctoral student, some peers and media reports identified him as a third-year life sciences undergraduate. The university’s cheerleading team, of which he was a member, paid tribute to him as a valued part of their family.
This is the second killing of an Indian national in Toronto this month, following the death of 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana on December 20. However, police have clarified that the two cases are not connected.
Investigators have registered Awasthi's death as the city's 41st homicide of 2025 and are appealing to the public for any dashcam or CCTV footage from the area at the time of the incident. The motive for the attack remains unknown.
https://www.cbc.ca/lite/story/9.7027786