January 7,2025
RED FM News Desk
Toronto police say a 28-year-old man has been arrested after a random shooting last month on the University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus that killed a 20-year-old student.
Investigators say Shivank Avasthi was shot and killed around 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 23 while walking on a campus trail near Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road. Police believe he did not know the suspect and was randomly targeted.
Police have charged 28-year-old Toronto resident Babatunde Afuwape with first-degree murder. Det.-Sgt. Stacey McCabe said the motive is still unknown, but investigators believe the suspect went to the area intending to kill someone. He was reportedly on campus for about an hour before the shooting, and police do not think he was a student.
McCabe asked anyone who may have interacted with the suspect to contact police, noting that the trail — known as “the valley” — is commonly used by students, staff, and local residents. She acknowledged the fear the incident caused but emphasized that the suspect is now in custody.
Police said Afuwape was on parole for firearms offences at the time and was arrested on Dec. 28 for a parole violation. McCabe called the case deeply tragic and said Avasthi, an international student in his third year, was “young, bright, and had his whole life ahead of him.”
She expressed condolences to his family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by his death.
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