Toronto police are scheduled to provide a media update Wednesday morning on the homicide of Shivank Avasthi, a 20-year-old University of Toronto student who was fatally shot near the Scarborough campus just days before Christmas. Investigators are expected to brief reporters at 10:30 a.m. as the case continues to draw concern from the campus community and the broader public.
Avasthi was discovered with a gunshot wound on December 23 along a paved trail in the Highland Creek Valley, only steps from the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus. Police say officers were called to the area of Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road at approximately 3:30 p.m. for reports of “unknown trouble.” Upon arrival, they found the young man critically injured. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to the Toronto Police Service, the suspect fled before officers arrived. As of Wednesday morning, no arrests have been made, and investigators continue to seek assistance from the public. Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses, as well as dashcam or surveillance footage from the Highland Creek area during the afternoon hours of Dec. 23.
Avasthi’s death was recorded as Toronto’s 41st homicide of 2025, underscoring ongoing concerns about gun violence in the city.
The loss has deeply affected the University of Toronto Scarborough community. According to The Varsity, the university’s student newspaper, Avasthi was a third-year life sciences student, an active member of the UTSC cheerleading team, and an executive with the campus powerlifting club. Friends and classmates have described him as engaged, energetic, and deeply involved in student life.
In response to the tragedy, a memorial space is being established on campus near the humanities wing steps, where students, faculty, and staff will be able to leave flowers, notes, and messages of remembrance in the coming days.
Police say Wednesday’s update may include new information on the investigation and continue to encourage anyone with relevant details to come forward, stressing that even small pieces of information could be critical in advancing the case.