Toronto Police said they have arrested and charged a 28-year-old Nigerian-Canadian man identified as Babatunde Afuwape for his alleged connection with the fatal shooting of a 20-year-old University of Toronto student near the institution’s Scarborough campus.
At a news conference held at police headquarters on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, detectives announced that Afuwape has been charged with First Degree Murder in the death of Shivank Avasthi, identified as a third-year student of the University of Toronto.
According to the police, Avasthi was shot dead on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, along the Highland Creek Trail near Old Kingston Road.
Police said officers responded to a call for “unknown trouble” at about 3:34 p.m., where they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, while the suspect reportedly fled before police arrived.
Describing the incident as “deeply tragic,” Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe of the Homicide and Missing Persons Unit said the victim was an international student from India with a promising future.
“Shivank was a third-year U of T student from India. He was young, bright, and had his whole life ahead of him,” McCabe said.
“Our thoughts remain with his family, friends, classmates, and everyone affected by his loss.”
McCabe said investigators do not believe the accused and the victim were known to each other, adding that police consider the killing a “planned and deliberate act,” though a motive has yet to be established.
“Based on our investigation, we do not believe the accused and the victim were known to each other,” she said.
“It is our belief that this was a planned and deliberate act by the accused, and we have not yet found a motive for why Shivank was targeted.”
Police acknowledged that the shooting sparked fear among students, staff, and residents who frequently use the trail and surrounding campus areas.
“We recognize that this incident caused a great deal of fear and concern to students, staff, and members of the surrounding community,” McCabe said.
“We want to reassure the community that the person responsible for this is in our custody.”
Afuwape, a Toronto resident, was scheduled to appear before the Toronto Regional Bail Centre at 2201 Finch Avenue West on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Investigators are appealing to the public for additional information, saying there may be witnesses who saw or interacted with the accused on the Highland Creek Trail or nearby campus on the day of the homicide.
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