Candlelight vigil honours Seneca student fatally shot

Dozens of Seneca College students gathered to remember 21-year-old Kartik Vasudev at Nathan Phillips Square. Maleeha Sheikh speaks to attendees who are demanding justice for the international student, who was shot and killed outside a subway station.

By News Staff

Posted April 9, 2022 10:51 pm.

Last Updated April 10, 2022 7:04 pm.

Seneca College students hosted a candlelight vigil Sunday afternoon at Nathan Phillips Square to honour the memory of Kartik Vasudev.

The 21-year-old student from India was fatally shot on Thursday outside of the Sherbourne subway station.

Police said an off-duty paramedic tried to save Kartik’s life after the shooting, but he later died in hospital.

“It could have been any of us,” said one of the several hundred who turned out for the vigil, carrying signs that read ‘I am Kartik’.

“It could have been me, your parents, anybody. Anyone of your loved ones.”

Thornhill MP Melissa Lantsman told the crown the federal government will work to get justice for his family and friends.

“In my community when you lose somebody, you lose an entire world around them,” she said. “You have our support and we will make sure that the House of Commons in Canada knows about Kartik, knows about his legacy, and knows that international students are welcome here and that this is a safe environment.”

College president David Agnew was among those in attendance and says what happened to the 21-year-old international student is shocking.

“Within weeks of arrival in Canada, full of enthusiasm and ambition and energy to start a new life here, gets a job and then is cut down by this random act of violence.”

Half a world away, more than 1,000 people gathered outside Vasudev’s school in India to demand justice, according to his cousin.

A remarkable show of support in India as thousands gather to call for #JusticeForKartikVasudev. Video: @gauravvasdev1 pic.twitter.com/wxNA93QVxI

— Michelle Mackey (@michellemackey) April 10, 2022

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

Vasudev’s father, Jitesh Vasudev, told CityNews in an interview his son was a shy and thoughtful person.

Jitesh said he is working with the Indian consulate in Toronto to try to get his son’s body back to India.

The college also released a statement, saying the Seneca community is saddened to hear about Kartik’s death, and its thoughts are with his family, friends, and classmates.