Police Seek Suspect After Doctoral Student Found With Gunshot Wound
A 20-year-old Indian student, Shivank Avasthi, was shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus in Canada, and police are searching for the person or people responsible, authorities and family sources said.
Toronto Police said the shooting is being treated as a homicide and marks the city’s 41st such case this year.
What Happened
Police received a call on Tuesday afternoon about an unknown trouble in the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area, east of the campus. Officers responded around 3:34 pm and found a man with serious gunshot injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as Shivank Avasthi, a doctoral student at the university.
Toronto Police said the suspect(s) fled before officers arrived. They have asked anyone with information to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
Tense Local Reaction and University Alerts
Following the shooting, parts of the campus area were briefly put under shelter-in-place advisories while police investigated and secured the scene, local reports said. Students expressed concern about safety, especially on trails and paths near the campus that are used regularly by students.
The University issued alerts and advised people to avoid nearby trails until the investigation was complete.
Indian Consulate Response
The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed deep anguish over the shooting. In a statement shared on social media, the consulate said it is in close contact with Avasthi’s family and is coordinating with local authorities to provide necessary support.
Context: Recent Violence in Toronto
The shooting comes just days after another high-profile case in Toronto involving the murder of 30-year-old Indian national Himanshi Khurana, whose body was found in a residence following a missing person report. A suspect has been named in that case, and police issued an arrest warrant.
The two incidents have raised concerns about safety among international students and community members in the region.
