Toronto Police have announced a first-degree murder charge against 28-year-old Babatunde Afuwape, a Nigerian-Canadian resident, in connection with the killing of 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi, a University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) student.
The incident took place on December 23, 2025, along the Highland Creek Trail near campus. After receiving emergency calls about an injured person, police found Avasthi with gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite immediate lifesaving efforts. Investigators describe the attack as planned but random, with no known connection between Afuwape and Avasthi.
Afuwape was located on December 28, 2025, while being sought for a parole violation. He was taken into custody and formally charged with first-degree murder in early January. Authorities stressed the gravity of the crime and are continuing their investigation to establish a motive and full sequence of events.
Sgt. Stacey McCabe of the Toronto Police Homicide and Missing Persons Unit is urging anyone who may have seen Afuwape on December 23 or had contact with him to come forward to assist investigators.
The UTSC community remains in mourning. Avasthi, a third-year life sciences student, was an active member of campus life, participating in cheerleading and powerlifting. Friends and classmates remember him as bright, dedicated, and deeply engaged.
In response to the tragedy, students have started a petition calling for improved campus safety, including better lighting, more surveillance, and increased patrols. The university has stated it is reviewing current security measures.
No further details about the suspect's background have been released. Police are appealing to the public for any additional information that could help clarify the circumstances of the crime.
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