Overview
- Shivank Avasthi, 20, was found with a gunshot wound on December 23 near Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road and was pronounced dead at the scene.
- Toronto Police classify the case as a homicide, say the suspect or suspects fled before officers arrived, and have appealed for tips.
- The University of Toronto Scarborough briefly issued a shelter-in-place advisory and closed access to the valley trails during the initial search.
- This is Toronto’s 41st homicide of 2025, and investigators have released no motive or suspect description as the probe continues.
- Reports differ on Avasthi’s academic status, with some describing him as a doctoral student and others as a third-year undergraduate, and police have not resolved the discrepancy.