Indian student Shivank Avasthi shot dead near University of Toronto Scarborough campus

News Release – Homicide Investigation, Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road, Victim: Shivank Avasthi, 20, Image Releasedhttps://t.co/WdkKqp4pGe pic.twitter.com/XF6NAYJwgX

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) December 24, 2025

Avasthi was a student at UTSC, reportedly in his third year of life sciences, and a member of the university’s cheerleading team. The team paid tribute to him on Instagram, remembering him as a “supportive teammate who brought smiles to everyone’s faces” and noting that he would “always be part of our UTSC Cheer family.”

The shooting occurred near one of the university’s popular trail systems along the Highland Creek valley, prompting a brief lockdown on campus. The university issued a “shelter-in-place advisory” while police investigated the area. Several students took to social media platforms to voice their fear and frustration over long-standing safety concerns around the off-campus trail network, which many consider poorly lit and inadequately patrolled.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto on December 25 expressed “deep anguish” over the incident and said it was in close contact with local authorities to extend assistance to Avasthi’s family. The Consulate referred to him as a “young Indian doctoral student,” though other sources identified him as an undergraduate. Police have described him simply as a 20-year-old resident of Toronto.

Investigators have not disclosed a motive and say the incident appears “isolated” with no ongoing threat to the public.