US-Nigerian Man Charged in Toronto Student Killing

Toronto police have charged 28-year-old Babatunde Afuwape, a U.S.-Nigerian national, with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of University of Toronto student Shivank Avasthi.

Avasthi, 20, was killed on December 23, 2025, along the Highland Creek Trail near Old Kingston Road on the university’s Scarborough campus. Police said officers responded around 3:30 p.m. and found the third-year student with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, marking Toronto’s 41st homicide of the year.

Detective Sergeant Stacey McCabe said investigators believe the attack was planned and deliberate, adding that Afuwape appeared to have gone to the area intending to kill someone. She noted that there was no known relationship between the suspect and the victim, and investigators are still trying to determine how Avasthi was selected.

Police said Afuwape, who was on parole for previous firearm-related offences, spent about an hour on the campus before the shooting. A firearm has since been recovered, and investigators are appealing to anyone who may have been on the trail at the time to come forward.

McCabe said authorities were aware the incident caused significant fear among students, staff and nearby residents, but assured the public that the suspect is now in custody.

Afuwape was arrested on 28 December after a parole violation, and police said the investigation remains ongoing.

Avasthi, an international student from India, was remembered by friends and classmates as kind, supportive and deeply caring. A close friend from the university’s cheerleading team said he was known for looking out for others, offering advice, and making sure friends were safe during late-night walks.

Tributes were also paid by the university’s cheerleading and powerlifting clubs, which described him as a positive presence who consistently encouraged those around him.

The shooting, which police believe was random, has deeply shaken the campus community and renewed concerns about student safety on and around university grounds.