A 20-year-old Shivank Awasthi was shot dead near the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus (UTSC) in Toronto. The incident has raised alarm and anger within the local Indian community. According to Toronto Police, the shooting occurred around 3:30 pm on Tuesday near Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road. Shivank was declared dead at the scene, and the suspect fled before police arrived.
Police identified the victim as Toronto resident Shivank Awasthi, aged 20. It is still unclear whether he was a student at the University of Toronto. Investigators have released his photo and appealed to the public for any information that could help the case.
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UTSC Campus Temporarily Sealed After Shooting
Following the shooting of Shivank Awasthi, the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus was temporarily sealed as a precaution. Students and staff were instructed to stay in safe areas, and access routes toward Highland Creek Valley were closed. Later, the university administration clarified that there was no threat to the campus. Toronto Police senior officer Jeff Ellington stated that there is currently no indication of any danger to the general public. Authorities believe this may be an isolated incident.
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Earlier Murder of Himanshi Khurana Raises Safety Concerns
Earlier in December, 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, an Indian-origin woman in Toronto, was found murdered. Police have issued an arrest warrant against a 32-year-old man, Abdul Ghafoori, who is known to the victim. According to police, the woman went missing on the night of December 19, 2025, around 10:41 pm, near Strachan Avenue and Wellington Street West. Her body was discovered inside a residence the next morning around 6:30 am, and the death has been classified as a homicide.
The victim was identified as 30-year-old Himanshi Khurana, a resident of Toronto. Police say the accused and the victim were acquainted and had a close relationship. According to official records, this was the 41st homicide in Toronto in 2025. Such incidents have raised serious concerns about the safety of Indians living in Canada.