University of Toronto Student Shot Dead; Canada Safety Concerns Rise

The city of Toronto is grappling with another tragic homicide after Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old Indian doctoral student, was shot and killed near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus. The fatal shooting occurred on Tuesday in the vicinity of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road. Responding officers discovered Avasthi suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was confirmed deceased at the scene. The perpetrators reportedly escaped the scene before police arrived, prompting a brief campus lockdown and an ongoing manhunt. This incident brings the total number of homicides in Toronto to 41 for the year. The shooting has ignited significant fear and anger among students, with discussions on social media platforms highlighting long-standing campus safety concerns. These include inadequate lighting in key areas, a lack of sufficient surveillance, and insufficient security personnel, issues that students claim have been previously brought to the university’s attention. The scarcity of information regarding the suspect(s) and motive has left many students feeling vulnerable, especially those who frequent the campus during off-peak hours. Shivank Avasthi was also a dedicated member of the UTSC cheerleading team, where his positive energy and supportive spirit were highly valued. His teammates have expressed deep grief and memorialized him as an essential part of their ‘UTSC Cheer family’.