An Indian doctoral student was shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus on Tuesday, with the Toronto police identifying him on Wednesday as 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi, according to a report by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
The police have completely cordoned off the Highland Creek Valley at University of Toronto Scarborough campus (UTSC), where they search for clues in the case that they are probing as a homicide.
Inspector Jeff Allington told reporters near the scene on Tuesday night that police were called to the area of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road at about 3.30 pm on Tuesday to tend to an injured person lying on the ground.
The officers who arrived on the scene found the person with a gunshot wound. He was later pronounced dead at the scene.
“Our immediate focus is on preserving evidence at the scene, determining what happened and notifying this individual’s next of kin.
Because of that, there is very little information that I am able to share with you tonight,” Allington said.
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The suspect, said the Toronto police, fled the area prior to police arrival and no suspect description has been released so far.
A UTSC spokesperson said the university was “extremely saddened” to learn about the death near their campus, but did not confirm if he was a student, with the spokesperson saying they could not “comment on the identity of the victim at this time”.
“We are grateful to our Campus Safety team, Toronto Police Service and emergency medical service personnel for their immediate response and action,” the spokesperson said.
India’s Consulate in Toronto expressed “deep anguish” over the student’s “tragic death”.
“We express deep anguish over the tragic death of a young Indian doctoral student, Shivank Avasthi, in a fatal shooting incident near the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus. 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,” the Consulate posted on X.
Meanwhile, the UTSC campus also issued a safety alert advising anyone in a building to stay inside and anyone outdoors to leave the area.
In a social media post, the school said the police investigation is in the Highland Creek Valley at UTSC and people are advised to avoid the valley until police reopen it.
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