Sacramento Sheriff's Office admits probable cause existed to arrest stalker before fatal Panera shooting

Key points

• Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Lt. Amar Gandhi stated deputies had probable cause to arrest Rohit Rohit after Thakur reported a restraining order violation on July 29.
• Deputies made at least two in-person attempts to locate Rohit at his home and other known locations but were unsuccessful; no large-scale manhunt was conducted.
• Rohit, 22, fatally shot Thakur, 38, in an Arden-Arcade parking lot on Tuesday, then died by suicide during a standoff on Highway 50.
• Thakur had obtained a civil harassment restraining order in May after months of stalking, including hidden tracking devices, unauthorized entry into her home, and tire slashing.
• DHS confirmed Rohit entered the U.S. illegally via Arizona in August 2023 and was released on an order of recognizance, a decision criticized by officials as contributing to the tragedy.

Background

This incident follows a pattern of escalating harassment documented in court filings and police reports. Thakur initially declined to pursue charges in March but was urged by deputies to seek a restraining order in May. The case has reignited local debates over sanctuary policies and the effectiveness of civil harassment orders in preventing violence, particularly when suspects have no prior criminal history.

How outlets are covering it

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, via Lt. Amar Gandhi, emphasized that while they had probable cause, the violation was a lower-level misdemeanor and they could not locate the suspect. Gandhi stated that saying 'nothing was done' is incorrect and that detectives handle such cases daily. In contrast, Thakur’s mother, Sudesh Kumari, and local media outlets like the Sacramento Bee and CBS News highlight the failure to protect the victim, noting that Kumari believed her daughter was not safe despite the restraining order. The California Post and DHS officials point to immigration policy failures, specifically Rohit’s release after illegal entry, as a contributing factor. KCRA and CBS News focus on the procedural gaps, noting that even if arrested, Rohit might have been cited or released by a judge, making it impossible to determine if an earlier arrest would have prevented the killing.

Why it matters

This case exposes critical gaps in the enforcement of civil harassment restraining orders and the limitations of local law enforcement resources in handling non-domestic violence stalking cases. It also highlights the intersection of immigration status and public safety, raising questions about how sanctuary policies and federal release decisions impact the ability of local agencies to protect victims and apprehend dangerous individuals.

What to watch

Investigators are still determining the immediate sequence of events leading to the shooting. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is expected to review its protocols for handling restraining order violations to determine if additional resources could have been allocated. Thakur’s family is planning a funeral service, and public discourse is likely to continue regarding the efficacy of civil harassment orders and immigration enforcement in preventing violent crimes.