Father of Seneca student fatally shot outside TTC subway station pleads for answers

The father of a 21-year-old Seneca College student from India who was fatally shot outside a TTC subway station is pleading for answers as the homicide investigation continues.

“What was the issue? Why did this happen? I was considering Canada very safe, Toronto very safe,” Jitesh Vasudev, the father of Kartik Vasudev, told CityNews on Friday.

“He was a very shy person. He’s very thoughtful … he’s just very, very private.”

It was at around 5 p.m. on Thursday when emergency crews were called to the Glen Road entrance to Sherbourne station, east of Sherbourne Street for reports of a shooting.

Toronto police homicide squad investigators said an off-duty paramedic tried to save Kartik’s life shortly after the shooting. He was rushed by paramedics to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Jitesh said he was told his son was not answering his phone and wasn’t at his job. He said he later heard about a shooting near the subway station.

“I just want to know what happened with my son,” Jitesh said.

“He would not speak a loud word to anyone.”

RELATED: Man shot and killed outside Sherbourne station, police say

He said his son, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in India, recently started a part-time job in the city and studied at Seneca College.

College officials issued a brief statement to CityNews on Friday in response to Kartik’s death.

“The Seneca community is saddened to hear of the tragic death of Kartik Vasudev, a first-semester marketing management student,” the statement said.

“Our thoughts are with Mr. Vasudev’s family, friends and classmates. Counselling support is being made available to students and employees.”

Jitesh said he is working with the Indian consulate in Toronto to try to get his son’s body back to the country. A post-mortem examination needed to occur.

Consular officials issued a brief statement on Twitter to say they are providing “all possible assistance” in returning Kartik’s body to India.

“We are shocked and distressed at the unfortunate killing of Indian student Kartik Vasudev in a shooting incident in Toronto yesterday,” a tweet on Friday said.

Meanwhile, anyone in the area who didn’t speak with officers yet as well as those who might have surveillance or dashcam video were asked to call police at 416-808-7400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.

Homicide #19/2022, Sherbourne Subway Station, Kartik Vasudev, 21, https://t.co/1rje1tLTwH

— Toronto Police (@TorontoPolice) April 8, 2022

SHOOTING: (UPDATE)
Sherbourne Subway
– police o/s
– man has succumbed to his injuries & pronounced deceased at hospital
– @TPSHomicide has taken carriage of the investigation
– anyone w/ info call police 416-808-2222
– ongoing investigation
– Glen St remains closed#GO646404
^al

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) April 7, 2022