Canadian authorities have charged a Nigerian man, Babatunde Afuwape, with first degree murder following the fatal shooting of a 20 year old university student on the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.
According to a report on Thursday, January 8, 2026, Toronto Police confirmed that Afuwape, a 28 year old resident of Toronto, is accused of killing Shivank Avasthi, a third year student at the University of Toronto.
The incident occurred on December 23 along the Highland Creek Trail near Old Kingston Road, a well known pedestrian route frequently used by students, joggers, and members of the public. The area is located close to the University of Toronto Scarborough campus and is usually busy during the daytime.
Police said officers were dispatched to the scene at about 3.30 p.m. after receiving reports of a disturbance in the area. Upon arrival, officers discovered Avasthi suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency medical personnel were immediately called, and life saving efforts were made. However, the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities confirmed that the killing was recorded as Toronto’s 41st homicide of 2025, adding to growing concerns about violent crime in public spaces across the city.
Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe described the case as deeply tragic and heartbreaking. She noted that the victim was a young student with a promising future whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence.
“He was full of potential and had so much ahead of him,” McCabe said. She added that investigators remain conscious of the profound impact the incident has had on the victim’s family, friends, classmates, and the wider university community.
Police disclosed that preliminary findings suggest the shooting may not have been targeted. Investigators believe that the suspect and the victim did not know each other prior to the incident, raising the possibility that the attack was random. This development has heightened concerns among students and residents about safety in the area.
McCabe further revealed that Afuwape had reportedly been on or around the campus for nearly an hour before the shooting took place. Authorities stated that he is not believed to be a student at the university, and his employment status remains unclear.
Further investigations revealed that Afuwape was arrested five days later, on December 28, for allegedly breaching parole conditions related to previous firearm offences. Police confirmed that he was expected to appear in court earlier this week in connection with those charges, prior to being formally charged with first degree murder.
Following Avasthi’s death, tributes poured in from fellow students, university groups, and campus organisations. Many described him as kind, supportive, and highly motivated, noting that he had a positive impact on those around him.
A close friend of the deceased, Caitlin Whittier, said she met Avasthi through the university’s cheerleading community and remained close to him even after the season ended. She described him as someone who consistently put others first and made a point of ensuring his friends felt safe.
According to Whittier, Avasthi often walked friends to their cars late at night, offered advice when needed, and listened attentively to those around him. She said she later wrote a heartfelt letter expressing everything she wished she could have said to him, which she shared with his parents during his funeral.
She added that she keeps framed photographs of him as a way of preserving his memory, choosing to remember him as a joyful, hardworking young man whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impression.
Toronto Police said the investigation remains ongoing as Afuwape awaits further court proceedings, while the university community continues to mourn the loss of one of its own.
Comments
Post a Comment