DoorDash driver stalked California woman for a year, hid AirTag in car, and copied her house key. Then he chased her by foot, shooting her dead
Some shadows refuse to stay behind you
A restraining order is supposed to create distance. But for one California woman, even documenting months of increasingly alarming behavior was not enough to keep the man accused of stalking her away.
Shalini Thakur, 38, had reportedly dealt with far more than unwanted messages. She allegedly found a tracker hidden in her car, learned the man had obtained a copy of her apartment key, and eventually went to court for protection. Yet the behavior she feared continued.
According to People, the man was 22-year-old Rohit Rohit, a DoorDash driver Shalini knew because he picked up orders from the IHOP where she worked. Authorities say the stalking began months before Rohit confronted Shalini outside a Sacramento shopping center on September 8, 2026, and killed her.
The AirTag was only part of it
Shalini’s restraining-order filing alleged that Rohit began stalking her around September 2025, with his behavior escalating in both frequency and severity. Court records show she accused him of repeatedly waiting outside her home, including an April incident when he allegedly remained there for hours.
The situation extended to her car. Authorities say Rohit once deflated her tires and then followed her to work so he could offer assistance. In January, Shalini discovered an Apple AirTag hidden under the hood of her vehicle. Concerns over AirTags being used to secretly track people have followed the devices for years.
Rohit allegedly found another way into Shalini’s life that was even harder to explain away. Investigators say he obtained a copy of her apartment key and entered her home while she was sleeping. The following morning, he allegedly claimed he had gone inside because she was not answering him and he was worried something had happened to her.
Not knowing how someone got a key to your home would already be frightening enough. In Shalini’s case, however, it was part of a much larger alleged pattern. Her court filing also accused Rohit of trying to force her into marriage and prevent her from socializing with other people. She also reported that he had threatened to shoot himself or anyone she met.
Shalini initially declined to pursue charges or obtain a restraining order, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies and detectives remained concerned for her safety and stayed in contact with her. In May, authorities again urged her to seek an order, which she eventually obtained. Rohit was served with temporary restraining-order documents on May 19.
But that did not end the alleged contact. On July 29, Shalini reported that Rohit had violated the order after grocery items were left at her front door. Investigators later said they had probable cause to arrest him over the alleged violation and made at least two attempts to locate him, but they were unsuccessful.
Then, on September 8, Rohit arrived near a Panera Bread at a shopping center on Howe Avenue shortly before Shalini was dropped off near her parked vehicle. Authorities say he approached and confronted her. Shalini tried to run, but Rohit allegedly chased her on foot, pulled out a gun, and shot her multiple times. After she fell, authorities say he walked over to her and shot her in the head at close range.
Rohit fled in his vehicle, but deputies located him within minutes. When authorities attempted to stop him on Highway 50, his vehicle came to a stop. Deputies later found Rohit dead inside from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are still asking anyone with information about Shalini’s killing or the events leading up to it to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
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