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Man, 28, Charged With First-Degree Murder in UTSC Student’s Shooting

Detectives describe a planned, deliberate attack with no known link to the victim.

Overview

  • Toronto police identified the victim as 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi, who was fatally shot on Dec. 23 near Highland Creek Trail by the University of Toronto Scarborough campus.
  • Police named the accused as Babatunde Afuwape, 28, who is charged with first-degree murder.
  • Investigators said Afuwape was on campus for about an hour before the shooting, and a firearm was recovered.
  • Detectives believe the shooter intended to kill someone, with no connection found to Avasthi, and characterized the case as a random targeting of the victim.
  • Police noted Afuwape was on parole for firearm offences and was arrested on Dec. 28 for a parole violation, and they released his photo seeking tips from anyone who saw him on Dec. 23.