A man charged with the first-degree murder of a University of Toronto student was free on parole, despite a documented history of violence and a psychological assessment that placed him in the "high-risk range for violent recidivism." The case of Babatunde Afuwape, 28, has ignited fierce criticism of the Parole Board of Canada's decision-making, following the tragic shooting of 20-year-old Shivank Avasthi on December 23, 2025.
A Fatal Day on Campus
Police allege that Afuwape was on the University of Toronto's Scarborough campus for approximately an hour before the attack, seemingly looking for a target. The victim, Shivank Avasthi, a third-year student from India, was gunned down on a campus trail. Afuwape, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, was on day parole at the time. His parole had been extended just over a month prior to the killing.
The allegations against Afuwape have not been proven in court. However, his extensive criminal record reveals a pattern of serious offences and repeated violations of court-ordered conditions, raising urgent questions about why he was on the street.
A History of Violence and 'Catch and Release'
Afuwape was on parole while serving a sentence of over five years for a series of crimes, including robbery and firearms offences. His violent history is detailed in parole documents.
In December 2018, just four months after a previous conviction, Afuwape and a co-accused attacked a 67-year-old pizza delivery driver. The parole board summary states one assailant held the victim down while the other stabbed him twice—in the shoulder and behind the ear—before stealing his car and leaving him bleeding on the ground. A judge later called the violence "gratuitous and wholly unnecessary."
While out on bail for that crime in October 2020, Afuwape was linked to a shooting. A search of his home uncovered a loaded handgun, ammunition, and spent shell casings. After another period in custody, he was released on bail again in 2021.
His disregard for release conditions continued. In December 2022, his father informed police that Afuwape had cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and fled. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he turned himself in two months later.
The Parole Board's Controversial Decision
Despite this troubling history, the Parole Board of Canada granted Afuwape day parole on March 11, 2025. He was released to a halfway house on May 29. This decision came despite a psychological risk assessment from December 2024 that clearly rated him as a high risk for violent re-offending.
The board acknowledged his progress in an HVAC program and noted no immediate breaches. In November 2025, Correctional Service Canada even recommended he be granted full parole. The board, however, opted for caution—but only to a point. They extended his day parole for three months and scheduled a full parole hearing, citing concerns about his "significantly violent" past and repeated breaches.
That hearing will never happen. Afuwape is now back in custody, facing a murder charge. The tragic outcome has left a family grieving and a community demanding accountability, questioning why public safety was gambled on a high-risk offender with such a clear and violent pattern of behaviour.
