In a shocking incident, a 20-year-old student was found dead in Canada’s Toronto on Tuesday afternoon, prompting a manhunt. The deceased student has been identified as Shivank Avasthi, a doctoral student. His death was confirmed by the Indian Embassy, which said it was in touch with the bereaved family and the local authorities.
Avasthi’s body was found near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus (UTSC), according to the Toronto police. A statement by law enforcement said officers were called to the area of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus around 3:30 pm local time.
On arrival, they found a person with a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspects fled
Avasthi’s body was discovered by a person who was walking through a wooded area. He called the police after finding the injured student on the paved trail. Police said the suspect (suspects) fled the area before the police arrived. No suspect description has been released at this time.
Though the shooting incident triggered fear of an active shooter initially, with the U of T Scarborough campus issuing a lockdown. People on campus were told to shelter in place, or, if they were outdoors, to leave the area immediately to seek safe shelter. The shelter-in-place order was then fully cancelled at 6:30 p.m after the police declared that there was no information to suggest that there was any immediate risk to public safety on the campus. "So as far as I know, we were never operating under the suspicion that there was an active shooter," a senior police official told reporters.
Allington said detectives are working to determine the victim's last movements. There are challenges because the wooded area has no security cameras. “However, the lack of debris nearby made it easier to identify evidence. When we work our way backwards from that, that may help us develop a suspect," he added.
Embassy statement
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In a statement on X, the Consulate General of India in Toronto said it was providing necessary assistance to his family. "We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Mr Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus," it said.
"The Consulate is in touch with the bereaved family during this difficult time, and is extending all necessary assistance in close coordination with the local authorities," it added.