Canadian authorities have arrested a Nigerian man in connection with the fatal shooting of a University of Toronto student near the institution’s Scarborough campus.
The suspect, Babatunde Afuwape, 28, was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder, police announced on Tuesday, January 7, 2026.
The victim, Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old third-year student at the University of Toronto, was shot dead on December 23, 2025, near the Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road area of Scarborough.
According to police, officers were dispatched to the scene around 3:30 p.m. following reports of an unspecified disturbance. Upon arrival, they found Avasthi suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene despite emergency response efforts.
Speaking at a press briefing at police headquarters, Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe described the killing as a devastating loss.
“This was a deeply tragic case,” McCabe said. “Shivank was a bright young man with his whole life ahead of him. Our thoughts remain with his family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by this senseless act.”
McCabe said detectives from the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit worked intensively over several days to identify and locate the suspect.
Investigators believe the accused and the victim did not know each other, adding that evidence suggests the attack was planned and deliberate, although the motive remains unclear.
“It is our belief that this was a targeted act, but at this time, we have not established why Shivank was chosen,” McCabe stated.
Police acknowledged that the incident caused widespread fear among students, staff, and residents who regularly use the trail but reassured the public that the suspect is now in custody.
Authorities have appealed to anyone who was on the trail or around the campus on the day of the killing—and who may have encountered the suspect—to come forward with information as investigations continue.
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